One way in which this process commonly begins is an intervention guided by an interventionist who is deeply familiar with the healing power of Christ and the effects of addiction on families, friends, and coworkers. Interventionists consult and help to plan a time, place, and approach that will most effectively break down a sufferer's defenses and begin the process of turning away from death and darkness and towards life and light.
Loved ones need not continue to live in desperation and fear. We who have experienced the suffering of active addiction and the relief of Christian-based recovery are uniquely suited to helping adicts and their loved ones understand that he or she need not deal with alcoholism and drug addiction in shame and secrecy. The goal and focus of Christ Centerd Interventionists is to put an end to suffering and begin a renewed life of happiness and joy in Jesus Christ. www.christianinterventions.com/
Reprint from http://www.druginterventions.net/
Drug abusers often seem to have dual personalities. This is because he is unable to control himself under the influence of these substances. Loved ones often find themselves tense and denying the problem on the whole. The addict himself tries to cover up his/her drinking or drug habit. Friends and family sometimes do not even confront the abuser even in face of undeniable evidence for fear of rocking the boat. But this is not the ideal or healthy way to live. Behaving like an ostrich helps neither victims—the abuser or the family. It has proven helpful, to have a third party present that is professionally trained and knowledgeable about drugs and drug abuse when talking with the loved one who abuses. This intervention technique can save lives.
Intervention is the best way to make help available to those struggling with a drug addiction. Although a small percentage of substance abusers recover from addiction without intervention, the majority of addicted individuals need assistance. With intervention and support, many individuals are able to rebuild their lives.
Current situations may be concerning enough to explore intervention. Waiting doesn’t usually change anything for the better. Crises occur by the dozen, but with addiction, the choice of consequences are many each worse than the former. Waiting thus usually ensures the worsening of the situation.
Addiction is progressive. The abusers may seem to get over their problem. All the numerous problems, financial, health, relationships etc. that descend upon them may frighten them into a brief span of control. But this is not the best way to do it. Getting help and support from the people in our immediate environment is the only way to maintain control. Addiction makes them behave viciously. This is not only a moral issue but that of a "moral disease" that slowly corrodes the physical and mental health of the victim. Unfortunate situations include widely varying moods, low self esteem and practically no motivation, deceit, larceny, verbal or physical abuse, emotional distance.
They never realize that they have lost control as they are comparing themselves to their peers and consider themselves normal. It is a common misconception that alcohol and drug abusers have to hit “rock bottom” before help could be offered and accepted. This is was due to the idea that drug abusers could change for the better only if self-motivated. But nowadays this view has undergone a sea change because proficient experts can inspire an abuser toward recuperation. This is intervention.
Substance abuse intervention is a course of action that helps an abuser make out the extent of their problem. This process does not serve as a forum to judge or otherwise criticize the addict. Confrontation is not the purpose of intervention. Instead the object is to get them to recognize the reality of their alcohol or drug use on themselves as well as others and motivate them to seek help.
Intervention provides support and help to the abuser from people they are comfortable with— families, friends, and co-workers. It is also a way to give support to these unrecognized victims of substance abuse as well because addictions affect the entire family and community. Interventions always have the aim of getting the addict to enter treatment. An addiction intervention is meant to be a calm, tender, realistic, relaxed dialogue. 75% of interventions end up with addicts entering treatment that very day. 92% of interventions land up with the addict in a rehab centre within the week.
It is neither a confrontation nor a test of "who-can-be-more-pigheaded?" It is meant to make better the lives, shrewdness, and choices of all involved. There is a lot of wariness still present around the idea of what happens at an Drug Intervention/Alcohol Intervention. In reality, it is very different from what actually takes place. Intervening for a person does not make them a "Judas." Standing up for a person and protecting him from himself does not make them a betrayer.
The most commonly used addiction interventional method is the ARISE method (A Relational Intervention Sequence for Engagement). Used in clinics all over the world, this three-point approach makes use of the level of effort used by the intervention network in relation to the addict's opposition to motivate him to start Alcoholism Treatment/Drug Treatment. Addiction Intervention is all about forming a set of connective supports with the purpose of changing addictive behavior. With a trained professional helping, the members of the network facilitate each stage of the Drug Intervention/Alcohol Intervention.
Interventions are appropriate when the core members of the yet to be formed support system can no longer just sit by in good conscience and watch the abuser decline. When they want to change the situation that is when the intervention can take place. As long as they feel there is a justifiable concern about the abuser's welfare, it is perfectly the right time to intervene. Time the substance abuse intervention when he is straight. Find a time when the Addiction Intervention team as well as the abuser is in a calm frame of mind.
ARISE stages include:
Stage I: Telephone interventions that motivate: By instilling hope and a positive mood that the Drug Intervention/Alcohol Intervention will succeed, those who can and will help are invited to the intervention meeting. The group is organized and taught techniques to ensure the addict comes to the first meeting.
Stage II: Plan B incase the addict fails to enter treatment even after the initial efforts. Face-to-face sessions are conducted with or without the addict present, to rally the support system in emergent motivational strategies which have the primary goal of addiction treatment.
Stage III: This final limit setting approach is not surprising to the addict and is an almost expected natural consequence. If the addiction intervention network has reached this point, the addict has been given and has rejected many chances to enter treatment. This means that he is aware that many of his loved ones are intervening for him.
Family members convey the limits they have set in loving and supportive way. They too must learn to stop protecting the abuser from the consequences of their Substance Abuse and stop making apologies to others and getting them out of jams created by their own behavior. Facing up to a few of the problems of their own making will make them fully experience the harmful effects of their habit. In fact, it is a form of reverse motivation. The ARISE process is intended to defend and augment the longevity of family relations, while at the same time eliminating the dependence and behavior from controlling the family.
The Addiction Intervention process, from initial inquiry to meeting can last several weeks to a day. In certain crises however, immediate action must be taken to avert harm to abuser as well as those around him. Analysis can in certain occasions come to paralysis; therefore it is better to get out of the problem and into the solution as fast as possible. The healing process can begin only once intervention is over.
An Addiction Intervention team can consist of spiritual advisors, family, friends, or co-workers-together they make a well-rounded and effective team. The fact is that though they are coming together as a team to help someone struggling, when we bring "trust" situations into this, we incapacitate the group effort. By shedding light on all secrets, the "conspiracy of silence" is broken.
In Part 4 of the A&E Intervention with Pam and Brad we see the Pre_Intervention Process (note: fast forward to 2:45min to start the Pre-Intervention for Pam)
For Brad fast forward to 6:35min in Part4 for Pre-Intervention beginning
Unfortunately, it is the casual family or co-worker interventions that can do more to estrange the abuser. This is because they find it difficult to distance themselves from the situation and since emotions run high, there are opportunities to blame and provoke into anger. This merely complicates the situation. So a professional and detached Addiction Interventionist who brings in years of experience often the best bet to avoid years of anxiety, outlay, and aggravation.A professional interventionist can promptly organize the loved ones who want to help the addict into a focused support system keeping in mind the main goal: the fastest way to Alcoholism Treatment/Drug Treatment and Drug Rehab/Alcohol Rehab immediately. This MUST be done in a caring process that is transparent, confident, and optimistic and with resolute resolve.
Most professional Drug Intervention/Alcohol Intervention end with the addict safely in treatment. If this is not the case, the family, friends, and colleagues of the client must immediately cease all forms of permissible behaviors. In short, the addict must be made aware of all the consequences of his behavior. Strong and staunch limits must be set without any from of consideration to the addict's comfort. At the same time, the addict must understand that this is all done out of love for him. It must be apparent that this Alcoholism/Drug Abuse is not acceptable and that the family will not tolerate to any situation where they are forced to be audience to the addicts slow destruction of self. Unless the addict is willing to help himself , the support system must ensure that no help, no support, no money, no sanctuary, not even a shoulder to lean on, nothing is extended till he requests for Alcoholism Treatment/Drug Treatment.
Substance Abuse Intervention is thus a very excruciating process, because the true potency and doggedness of the addictive mind is then visible to the support system. Thus, a professional interventionists has to comfort and act as a buffer against all strong emotions to the abuser as well as his family.Intervention is thus to be conducted in a serious, effective, safe, and confidential manner. It is a hands-on enlightening process that concentrates on the unsettling bedlam and calamity within affected families. The intervention for Alcoholism/Drug Abuse is held in an effort to shift all people in the crisis, with the emphasis on the addict. Listen carefully to how the abuser is taking it. Answer and encourage him as he seeks help. Instead of answering these directly, support him and get him to call a Christ Centered Interventionist for help. Act fast and get him into a Addiction Treatment program before he chickens out!
We know that if we call upon Jesus for help, he will relieve the shame and terrible suffering of addiction. We rely upon the love and guidance of Christ in our interventions. Through training and experience, study of the Bible, prayer and meditation, and open dialogue with our clients, we are able to determine the correct approach towards intervening in your loved one's addiction.
We understand that God's infinite wisdom and kindness can break through the denial and self-will that is inherent to suffering from addiction. We understand that faith and trust and God offer the way out.
It is a process that has worked and will continue to work if we act with courage and conviction. In fellowship through Jesus Christ, Christ Centered Interventionists assist substance abusers in putting a stop to suffering and enter a life of perfect peace and serenity.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." - Isaiah 26:3
Congratulations! You have completed Module 4/Lesson 2
