Interventions Q&A
8 experts · 23 questions answered
Latest Q&As
always respond, never react
Greetings and thank you for your question. I agree that your employers have a very poorly conceived plan and frankly, it feels like their primary concern is limiting their liability. Few problems with that, obviously many harms have been done - some allegedly and some known. Performing an interventi
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Forcing Treatment
Hello and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to say that it is nearly impossible to force an adult into treatment for alcoholism or drug abuse. I urge you to have him removed from your home by any means necessary. The police would be my first stop, contact them locally through a non emergency li
Answered by Jim LaPierre
RE Renegade child!
Hi How long has she been in therapy AND is the therapist trained I addiction. Also what is causing it? Trauma, peer pressure, learning disability? Something kicks it off, you need to get to the why and the what and solve it and the addictive behaviors go down. Where are you located? My suggestions w
Answered by Cali Estes
Intervention: The Fight of a Lifetime
Thank you for the courage to reach out to help save your sister’s life! The simple answer to your question is that there are definitely a variety of measures that can be taken to help move the recovery process along without waiting for a person to actually agree to enter into treatment on their own
Answered by evan jarschauer
The Tears of a Clown
Hey there - thanks for your excellent question. My heart goes out to you - I know how hard it is to not enable someone you love. I want to affirm that you are doing the RIGHT thing by offering only the driveway. Enabling an addict/alcoholic happens when we protect them fro the natural consequences o
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Intervention: Going Over the Edge to Get Well!
That is a great question and one that requires careful consideration before moving forward with any intervention. The primary goal of an intervention should be to help someone who is in need of immediate care for an addiction or an underlying mental health issue. In most cases, it is planned only af
Answered by evan jarschauer
How Do I Help My Brother Quit Drinking?
Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear of the current difficulties within your family. Upon reading what you have written, I can see a clear sentiment in that you say; 'I want him to get help' but I am just wondering, what does he want? How would it feel to ask him what he wants you to do (
Answered by Rebecca Ashton
To intervene or not intervene
Hello. Yes, tough situation indeed. Try to keep in mind that although your intentions are caring, sometimes the addict needs to really hit their rock bottom. Sounds like the person that you are referring to has trouble with opiate addiction. At the worst of the addiction, the individual is only usin
Answered by Dyan Kolb
Confidentiality, Privacy and Rights
Hi - yes, a rehab center can require this as a matter of policy. This can be a vital part of ensuring safety - especially for a person who is newly sober. Known medical conditions give us an idea of what could be happening for a person whose health is faltering or failing. I'm not sure what you're c
Answered by Jim LaPierre
The Life of Your Friend May Require the Sacrifice of Your Friendship
Dear Anonymous: I am sorry to hear of your friend's involvement with 'meth.' This substance has had the reputation that "Speed Kills" since the 1960s, and even the occasional 'tweaker' is at high risk for sudden death. I do not want to come off like a 'narc,' because that is not my intention, but wi
Answered by Dr. Mark Abrahams
Family Interventions - Getting Everyone on the Same Page
Thanks for your question and it's awesome that you're concerned enough to take action! Getting a big family on the same page...I'm thinking of the expression "herding cats." It's uncomfortable for folks to acknowledge the truth when the truth is painful. It's easy to resent them for not supporting a
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Intervening with Affected Others
It's beautiful how much you want your son to be supported and loved. From what you're telling me he is not ready to see the truth about his wife and it seems likely that an intervention that is designed to push him to see the truth about her is unlikely to be successful. I would encourage you to app
Answered by Jim LaPierre
How to Have an Intervention
Thank you for your question. An intervention is a great idea to get your brother to hear your concerns about his drinking. However, I wouldn't recommend trying to do an intervention on your own. You really need a trained professional who knows how to make an alcoholic hear what you have to say. A pr
Answered by Anna Deeds
Denial and Powerlessness
I applaud you for your concern and from what you've shared with me you are wise to be concerned. Mixing alcohol with medications is always potentially dangerous and drug interactions can occur. Unfortunately, what your sister is doing is legal (based on what you've shared with me) and the only way I
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Treatment for a relative
In my opinion, your best bet is to do whatever it takes to get him help for his addiction. Once he is getting help, he will be encouraged to be honest with his wife. Keeping secrets for using addicts is enabling. Enabling only hurts the addict and everyone else affected.
Answered by Jennifer Criswell
Compulsive shopping
People who compulsively shop often meet criteria for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and/or impulse control disorders. I would suggest a comprehensive psychological assessment to determine the possible underlying issues surrounding the shopping. After that, the appropriat
Answered by Jennifer Criswell
Professional Intervention: Can It Work After the Family Has Failed?
For a complicated treatment problem, I am going suggest a simple answer. Contact a professional interventionist or interventionist organization and obtain their best professional opinion about the feasibility and effectiveness of a professional intervention after the family failed to assist a family
Answered by John O'Neal
Addicts Are Often the Last to See the “Problem”
Your friend could be heavily reliant or dependent on marijuana. Marijuana is often considered a natural and “harmless” plant comparable to tobacco. In my years of providing substance abuse treatment, I can report that marijuana is a highly effective drug which wipes out the user’s feelings and can a
Answered by John O'Neal
Planning an Intervention
Planning an Intervention Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” People who spend years wishing the alcoholic would get sober are surprised to see what some careful planning can accomplish. The success of an intervention is intricately tied to how it is imp
Answered by Dr. James Strawbridge
Alcohol Abuse Makes Growing Up Difficult for Dependent Teens
I would like to thank you in advance for having the care, concern and the courage to ask for advice/support or both on an online counseling service. I will do my best to help draw a map for you which may make your choices/options more clearly to you. You stated that you are a 14-year-old female teen
Answered by John O'Neal
Alcoholism and Family Holiday Gatherings: Not a Good Mix for Most
Dear Concerned Family Member: Many families are concerned about how they are going to “weather” through the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. This time period is the peak time for alcoholics to relapse or drink more heavily than usual. First, your family sounds like it needs immediate su
Answered by John O'Neal
Family Intervention for Alcoholism during the Holidays
I am sorry to hear that your family and your brother are becoming increasingly affected by your brother’s progressive drinking. Most heavy substance abusers or alcoholics do not believe they have a problem when- most of the people they know drink similarly to them, other family use alcohol and/or ot
Answered by John O'Neal
Use of Intervention in Substance Abuse
Let me see if I understand the exact nature of your brother’s alcoholism: Your brother does not recognize that he has an addiction problem. His family recognizes that he is alcoholic, and wants him to go into treatment even though the brother/son does not agree. You think your brother and family cou
Answered by John O'Neal