Types of interventions

In urgent situations, an emergency intervention may be warranted. If the family feels that the addict is an imminent threat to harm themselves or others, a quickly organized intervention may occur. These interventions can be organized in merely hours, and aim to stop the immediate self destructive and dangerous behaviors. This may be appropriate for someone on a drug or alcohol binge.

Workplace or "executive" interventions may be performed in an attempt to help a colleague or employee salvage a career. Companies prefer to help their staff over firing them whenever possible. Both because they recognize that there is talent there worth saving, and out of compassion and concern for a coworker and a friend. These interventions are similar to the classic family intervention, but the intervention occurs with work colleagues, and is designed to clearly demonstrate to the addict how their use is affecting their career, the work of their colleagues, and the performance of the company. The addict is forced to accept that their abuse has compromised their ability to perform at work, and recognize that if they don’t accept help, then they are likely to lose their career.

An adolescent intervention can be more complicated, and as such the services of an adolescent addiction specialist interventionist are often used. An adolescent intervention works very similarly to a family style intervention.