When is an intervention appropriate?

Most families let an addiction progress for far too long before conceding that professional outside help is needed to change the behavior of a loved addict. For most addicts, nagging, asking them to drink or use less, threatening and other behaviors do not serve as motivation to stop, and can even give them an excuse for further abuse.

Addicts tend to associate with other users, and it can be easy for a drug or alcohol abuser to compare their problem favorably with others in their peer group who may have more severe problems than they do. Addicts may not realize how damaging their use has become.

An intervention serves to reeducate an addict about what is normal, and how serious their addiction, and the pain that addiction is causing, truly is. The best time to organize an intervention is now. The sooner an addict accepts their problem and accepts help, the easier the path to recovery. If you know that someone you love has a substance abuse problem, and previous attempts to get that person to reduce their usage have failed, then it is time for a professional intervention.

If your spouse is drinking too much, and reducing the happiness of the family through poor behavior, poor work performance and a neglect of responsibilities, it is time to make that person realize the pain they are causing.

If your son or daughter is obviously using to excess, their grades have fallen, their health seems to be failing, and you fear for their safety; it is time to get them on the road to recovery and the road to health.

If elderly relatives seem to be drinking themselves to an early death, it's time to let them know how their actions make you, their grandchildren and other loved ones feel. It is time for an intervention.

The sooner the intervention is done, the sooner an addict can start getting the help they need, and the sooner a family can start to heal.