War on Drugs and Alcohol

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Intervention is a method used to raise the BOTTOM for the Alcoholic. The addicted person is confronted by people who are important to him/her in their life about their drinking and drug abuse, and how the drinking affects those close to him/her.

Due to the Faulty Memory System and the Defence Mechanisms-through which the alcoholic denies his/her drinking, the alcoholic cannot see the relationship between the problems the drinking is creating and alcohol.

By people who love them confronting the alcoholic about their drinking, showing love and concern, they provide a mirror of the alcoholic to see the harmful consequences of his/her drinking, therefore, motivate the alcoholic to seek treatment.

In previous years, people thought that the alcoholic had to hit bottom, have physical and mental deterioration, lose jobs, families, friends and health, etc., before seeking help. Through the intervention techniques, the alcoholic does not have to die or lose all health, family and material gain. As alcoholism is a fatal disease, killing many people yearly, and those who love and care for the alcoholic feeling helpless and hopeless, there is something that can be done to help. The intervention method can be used for any addicted person(s) and gives hope to an otherwise hopeless situation.

The intervention method has a series of important steps for the counsellor who is utilizing it:

STEP ONE

Assessment:

a) of the addicted person to determine what stage of the disease he/she is at and also to develop an appropriate treatment plan;

b) of the important people in the addicted person's life to assess their emotional stability in confronting the addicted person.

STEP TWO:

Education:

Educating those who are close to the addicted person on the progression of the disease and how the disease has affected them. How those who are close to the addicted person enable/help the addicted person not to continue the abuse.

STEP THREE:

Preparation:

To help those close to the addicted person to prepare themselves for confronting him/her. To rehearse what they will say to the person(s) about his/her destructive behaviour and how this behaviour has affected them.

STEP FOUR:

Simulation/Role Play and Final Arrangements:

Those close to the addicted person rehearse what they will say and how they will confront the addicted person. Where the addicted person will go for treatment and what alternatives they will present, should the person(s) refuse to go for treatment.

STEP FIVE:

Event:

Actual time and place when those close to the addicted person will confront them.

The term "intervention" comes from the root "intervene" meaning to come between.

The goal of INTERVENTION is to interrupt the alcoholic's drinking and motivate him to seek help.