The United States is in the midst of a drug pandemic. Since 2009, roughly 750,000 Americans have lost their lives due to a drug overdose. This figure only includes the casualties; there are many more struggling with an addiction.
To combat drug addiction, families across the nation are considering an intervention. Here, family and friends sit down with a loved one to get them help. Interventions are also useful for people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Read on if your group is considering an intervention. Explore five tips for planning an intervention that are certain to improve the likelihood of success.
1. Consider the Group
The first step in the planning process is forming an intervention group. The members of this group warrant careful consideration.
The inclusion of the wrong person could throw off the entire plan. It is important to understand that you are dealing with a vulnerable and emotional person. At a minimum, they need to respect and get along with each person in the intervention.
It is not a good idea to include estranged friends or family. This may trigger emotions and distract from the purpose of the intervention.
2. Pick the Right Time
There is not a perfect time for an intervention. This is a difficult conversation with high emotions.
However, some times are better than others. You should not choose to do an intervention at a family party or other joyous event.
Also, you should not bombard the individual after a long day of work. Each person is different and the group should agree on what the best time is.
3. Hold a Rehearsal
While the players and place matter, the discourse is all-important. The entire event can be thrown off with the wrong opening salvo or inflammatory rhetoric.
The best way to avoid this is with a practice session. Get everyone together before the intervention for a speech rehearsal.
Ask each participant to write their speech down on notecards. Then, they can read it aloud to the group for feedback and constructive criticism.
4. Choose a Location
The location of an intervention is important. You want to select a quiet, neutral location.
Any place that triggers emotional reactions is not a good idea. The location should be private with little chance of distraction. There should not be any children at the location as they can disrupt the intervention.
5. Set a Goal and Follow Up
A successful intervention allows participants to reach a sense of closure. The group goes into the meeting with goals and hopefully meets them.
For example, a common goal is for the addicted person to get help. However, some groups opt for smaller steps like an addiction admission.
The intervention is not the final step. It is critical to follow up and ensure that your loved one gets the help they need.
A Recap of Planning an Intervention
An intervention is a difficult event to hold and certainly is not fun. It needs to be done, however, and maybe critical in saving a loved one’s life.
Taking steps like holding a rehearsal and setting a goal may help. If you enjoyed this article about planning an intervention, check out our blog for more great content.
