How to Conduct an Intervention

People participate in an intervention.

The first step every recovering addict must take in recovery is acknowledging that they have a drug problem. It can be difficult watching your loved one struggle with addiction. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of Americans have a friend or family member who’s struggled with drug addiction. Oftentimes, people may want to help their loved one, but don’t know how. In this article, you’ll learn how to conduct an intervention effectively to help support your loved one’s recovery journey. 

At Outpatient LA, we offer a wide range of addiction treatment to ensure you receive the personalized care you need to maintain your sobriety. At our outpatient drug rehab, we understand that each patient’s recovery needs are different. This is why we provide patients with tailored care to ensure you receive the unique care you need to lead a healthier life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your unique recovery journey. 

People participate in an intervention.

5 Things to Do During an Intervention

Interventions, done right, can be an essential turning point in getting your loved one the professional support they need to overcome their addiction. Below are several things to keep in mind on how to conduct an intervention.

Set a Plan

First, it’s critical to set a plan, or a specific time, place, and set of close individuals to be at the intervention. The last thing you want to do is confront your loved one out of nowhere in a public setting about their drug addiction.

Be Open and Judgment-Free

Next, be open, judgment-free, and actively listen to your loved one during the intervention. This will help you avoid being confrontational and allow the individual struggling with addiction to feel seen and heard. 

Set Boundaries

It’s also critical to set healthy boundaries during an intervention. Boundaries protect your well-being, while also ensuring you are not accidentally enabling an individual’s addiction. For example, if you periodically loan money to an individual because they do not have a job, it’s critical to cut off financially supporting that individual, as they likely are using a portion of the money to fuel their addiction. 

Have a Plan to Talk About Professional Help

One of the primary aims of an intervention is to work toward getting your loved one to seek professional treatment to help them overcome their addiction. Therefore, be sure to express your support in helping them seek professional care.

Express Your Love for the Individual

Finally, it’s essential to express your love and concern for the individual struggling with addiction. This not only shows your loved one that you care for them, but also can help make the intervention feel less confrontational. 

Common Things to Avoid During an Intervention 

Now that you know how to conduct an intervention effectively, it’s also critical to understand what not to do during an intervention. Below are several points on what not to do during an intervention.

  • Do not confront the individual about their drug problem.
  • Do not unexpectedly confront an individual out of nowhere, in public, or among a group of people.
  • Avoid using a judgmental tone.
  • Avoid being unprepared. Do your research about addiction and potential treatment resources before the intervention. 
  • If the individual denies seeking treatment after the intervention, avoid getting angry. It’s critical to offer support, whether the individual acknowledges they have a drug problem or not. 

Help Is Available 

Now you know more about how to conduct an intervention so you can effectively express your concerns to your loved one. Interventions, done right, can play a critical role in helping your loved one acknowledge that they have an addiction and need support to get sober. It’s essential to remember to be open and judgment-free during an intervention to express your concerns, rather than coming across as judgmental or confrontational. 

Outpatient LA is committed to helping patients achieve long-term sobriety. We understand that addiction recovery is a lifelong journey that can be filled with many ups and downs. Our experienced team of addiction specialists is here to provide you with the unique care you need to best support your recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your recovery needs. 

How to Deal with Living with an Alcoholic

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, around 29 million people struggled with an alcohol use disorder in the US in 2023. This staggering statistic showcases just how prominent alcohol addiction is. Unfortunately, alcohol addiction doesn’t just hurt the alcoholic, but it also harms relationships with family members and friends. In this article, you’ll learn more about how to deal with living with an alcoholic so you can support your loved one, without harming your own health and quality of life. 

At Outpatient LA, we are a leading outpatient drug rehab that helps patients safely overcome addiction and heal their physical, mental, and spiritual wellness for the better. No two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why we provide a comprehensive range of outpatient addiction treatment options so you can receive the individualized care that best meets your recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your recovery journey. 

6 Ways to Deal with Living With An Alcoholic

When living with an alcoholic, it can be difficult to set healthy boundaries, while also being a supportive family member or friend. Keep reading to learn how to deal with living with an alcoholic so you can support your loved one, without compromising your own well-being. 

1. Set Clear Boundaries

First, as mentioned above, it’s critical to set clear, healthy boundaries when you are living with an alcoholic. This can look like both “smaller” boundaries like sharing responsibilities with cleaning the home/apartment, to “larger” boundaries such as if they are not contributing to pay rent because they spend all their money fueling their addiction, you set the boundary that they cannot live with you if they do not contribute to the home. 

2. Educate Yourself About Alcoholism

Next, it’s also important for you to educate yourself about alcoholism so you can learn what addiction is, and what addiction is not. Addiction is a complex brain disorder; therefore, you should not feel responsible for making someone get sober. Rather, you can help support that friend or family member who is an alcoholic to seek professional treatment to get sober. 

3. Support But Don’t Enable Behavior

Similar to setting boundaries, it’s important to recognize the difference between supporting someone vs enabling their behavior. If you are living with an alcoholic, it can be sometimes be easy to enable their behavior, especially if you don’t set boundaries regarding them contributing to paying their fair share of the rent and contributing to responsibilities/chores around the house. 

4. Encourage Open and Honest Communication

Rather than growing resentment for the individual struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s important to try and encourage open and honest communication. It’s important to communicate, regardless of if you are living with an alcoholic or not, so they understand your boundaries and if they cross them you can work toward resolving them rather than letting them take advantage of you and your living space. 

5. Prioritize Self-Care & Healthy Lifestyle Habits

It can be difficult living with an alcoholic; therefore, don’t forget to prioritize self-care and healthy lifestyle habits to maintain your own physical and mental health and well-being. This may look like ensuring you get plenty of quality sleep each night to journaling, consistently exercising, and more.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help 

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. While this is easier said than done and may vary depending on your living situation, if you have a family member living with you that is an alcoholic, consider asking for help from other trusted family members or reaching out to a local rehab facility who can offer support. 

Help Is Available 

Now you know more about the question “how to deal with living with an alcoholic”. From setting clear and healthy boundaries to not enabling behavior, there are several ways you can deal with living with an alcoholic to be a supportive friend or family member, without enabling their behavior. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, it’s critical to seek professional help to safely and effectively break free from addiction.

Our experienced team of addiction specialists are here to help you progress along your recovery journey. At Outpatient LA, we provide a wide range of outpatient treatment options to ensure you receive the best possible care to support your unique recovery needs. You should never feel too ashamed or afraid to ask for help in leading a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your road to recovery.