4 Types of Addiction Interventions

Intervention is the first step in the healing journey towards recovery. With a professionally trained interventionist as a guide, these meetings serve as a way to empower the individual as well as their loved ones to make the changes needed to achieve recovery.

Addiction is a brain disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, or gambling, addiction is something that can take over a person’s life and harm their health and relationships. It affects the neural pathways in the brain that regulate our behaviors, emotions, and decision-making. Once these neural pathways are affected, the person becomes vulnerable to behaviors and decisions that were once controlled. It can be extremely difficult to stop performing addictive behaviors without professionally guided help.

Thankfully, Hired Power is here to be your guiding hand in the recovery journey. The support of loved ones combined with trained interventionists can help individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues take the first step of the healing journey.

People often think of drugs and alcohol when imagining an intervention, but mental health, gambling, and eating disorders are also reasons for an intervention. Find out more below about these addictions and types of interventions.

Drug Addiction Intervention

A drug addiction intervention is a highly specialized and professionally guided process that helps families communicate differently and start the path to healing. While speaking directly with an individual struggling with addiction can be helpful, it is often ineffective because it may be difficult to see and acknowledge the problem. A more focused and organized approach is often needed to start the healing journey to recovery, and it can be accomplished by joining forces with a professional interventionist and selecting friends and family members.

Drugs can be especially harmful to the physical well-being of the person with addiction and their family members. Someone with substance use disorder can experience both medical and physical side effects when trying to recover independently. For this reason, it is important to consult a professional to provide a higher level of safety and success.

Early diagnosis of substance use disorder is key for a successful recovery. Your loved one may need a professionally guided intervention if there are signs such as:

• Changes in behaviors
• Loss of employment or failing in school
• Increased tolerance of the substance
• Isolation from loved ones
• Hospitalization due to an overdose
• Legal issues such as DUI, domestic disputes, and/or custody issues
• Mental fog and declining self-care
• Sudden financial issues
  

Alcohol Addiction Intervention

Alcohol misuse and addiction are growing concerns in America. In 2019, around 5.3% of Americans aged 12 or older struggled with alcohol use disorder, and nearly 26% of adults reported past-month binge drinking.

It is important to remember that an intervention can be the first step in a powerful journey to healing for the individual as well as their loved ones. Along with professional guidance, friends and family members can come together to organize an intervention to present someone with alcohol addiction with their concerns and help them make a plan to make the necessary changes for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

An alcohol addiction intervention can be planned based on the individual’s unique circumstances to ensure it is personalized and effective for everyone involved. It is meant to be a positive and loving encounter with a heartfelt discussion about alcohol misuse and how it affects the individual and their loved ones. You can organize an intervention in several simple steps:

• Find a professional interventionist
• Create a recovery plan with identified treatment and aftercare options
• Select family and friends to join the intervention
• Under your professional’s guidance, plan and write letters to be read to your
• loved one during the intervention
• Decide on details of a location, day, and time
• Establish a safety plan with your Intervention specialist
• Determine clear consequences for refusal of help
• Have the intervention with your loved one
• Follow-up with decisions made during the intervention
  

Gambling Intervention

Gambling, often called a “process addiction,” is a less understood and lesser-known type of addiction. Other forms of process addiction can include shopping or video games and social media, but gambling has been the most common form. Like drug or alcohol addiction, gambling addiction is a disease that makes the mind feel “high” while engaging in addictive behaviors. Gambling may not seem like a serious or dangerous addiction, but it can cause symptoms and long-term effects similar to substance use disorder. Signs of gambling addiction include:

• Increased gambling activity despite financial problems
• Needing to bet higher amounts and more often
• Irritability when trying to cut back
• Chasing losses
• Inability to stop the behavior even with serious consequences
• Loss of possessions, selling or hocking possessions to obtain additional funds
• Falling behind on monthly payments such as child support, home loans, utilities, or car payments
  

A gambling intervention is an action step that can be a turning point toward recovery and a healthier lifestyle. Intervention is never too soon, and it is best to start the process sooner to prevent significant debt. A gambling intervention relies on friends and family members to speak about how the disease has affected them. A professionally guided intervention has a focused agenda in a controlled, loving environment where participants can express their experience and ask the person with addiction to make the changes necessary for a better quality of life.

Eating Disorder Intervention

Eating disorder intervention is a way to help individuals face issues surrounding food. More than 20 million men and women in the U.S. are impacted by an eating disorder and require professional help. Eating disorders take many forms and can result in conditions like anorexia or bulimia. They are diagnosable mental health disorders that impact the mind and body and can result in serious health problems such as kidney disease, malnutrition, heart problems, and even death. Early intervention is the best way to help an individual with an eating disorder.

A professionally guided eating disorder intervention can only be successful with planning and preparation that a professional interventionist will lead. It is critical to have a support system in place and create a unified front for a productive and constructive intervention. During an eating disorder intervention, loved ones should discuss recovery options and concrete solutions so the individual has action steps to consider without feeling overwhelmed.

Find the Intervention Support You Need

Empower your loved one to take control of their illness and make the changes necessary for a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. Contact Hired Power to schedule a consultation and learn more about addiction interventions.