How to Stage an Intervention for an Alcoholic

When your loved one has a drinking problem, it can be hard to know what to do.

You may be feeling lost or hopeless, but you should take action; an intervention may be a good option.

How to Stage an Intervention for an Alcoholic

Holding an intervention for an alcoholic is no easy task, and it shouldn’t be something that you just throw together either. If you want your attempt to get your loved one help to be successful, follow these tips on how to stage an intervention for an alcoholic.

Get the Right People Involved

You do not need to include everyone at an alcohol intervention. You should invite the people who are closest with the alcoholic and could be the most motivational and impactful in order to get them help. A short-tempered relative who will likely resort to name-calling should not be invited as they could lead with their emotions and derail the intervention.

Write Letters

Ask participants to write a letter to the alcoholic to read during the intervention. Pre-written letters can help people keep their emotions at bay and avoid saying something off the cuff that they could later regret. There are several different ways to write an intervention letter, but in general, you want to offer support and avoid accusing the alcoholic.

Choose the Right Time

If you are holding an intervention for an alcoholic, you want your loved one to be sober, or as close to sober as possible. If they are under the influence of alcohol, your loved one will be less likely to listen, especially if alcohol tends to make them angry or more irritated. It is also a good idea to block out several hours for the intervention and to make sure that your loved one doesn’t have anything important immediately following the meeting as they will likely not be in the right emotional state.

Find A Private Place

Where you hold the intervention for an alcoholic is important. You want to find a private and safe space, but a neutral setting may be best. Holding an intervention in the alcoholic’s home gives them the easy ability to walk out or run to their room. A neutral and somewhat familiar setting like a friend’s home can help them feel comfortable but not too comfortable that they are ready to storm out.

Have a Solution Ready

The goal of intervening with an alcoholic is getting them help. In order to be successful, you need to have a solution ready. Something as vague as asking them to go to treatment is not enough. You should have a specific alcohol detox center and treatment program in mind and be ready to explain it to them during the intervention. You should also outline the consequences if they decide not to get help and be ready to enforce them.

Set Guidelines Beforehand

Before you and your loved ones jump into staging an intervention for drinking, you want to set boundaries and guidelines. Alcoholism is a touchy subject and people can often get carried away by their emotions. To try and keep the intervention on track, come up with a plan of events and rules. Some good guidelines include only letting people talk when it is their turn, avoiding accusatory language, and selecting one person to lead the meeting. It is also best to rehearse beforehand.

Get A Professional Involved

Even if you think you know everything you need to know about how to plan an intervention for an alcoholic, it doesn’t mean everything will go right. Every intervention is unique and can easily get off track and out of control. The best way to ensure that an intervention for an alcoholic is successful is with the help of an alcohol intervention specialist. They can help with the entire planning process and also act as an impartial party. An interventionist will also be able to help the entire family heal, not just the alcoholic.

If your loved one struggles with alcohol or a drug addiction, do not wait to take action. Our Boca detox center could be what your loved one needs to get back control of their life and start moving forward.

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If you are ready to help your loved one start changing their life, call us today at 888-280-4763. At Banyan Boca, we want to help your whole family heal.