Watching a loved one fighting the disease of addiction can be extremely frustrating and even scary at times. This may leave you wondering, is it time for an intervention? To explain, an intervention is defined as the concerted effort of family and friends to help an addict recover. While it is known that you can not force an addict into recovery, addiction interventions can often motivate them to become open to help. After countless nights of losing sleep out of fear for your loved one, you may be considering all of your loved one’s addiction treatment options. However, if you have never attempted to help an addicted friend or family member, you might not know exactly when the right time to intervene is.
Addiction negatively impacts all aspects of an individual’s life, including their relationships with their friends and loved ones. As a result, it may be difficult to have a serious conversation with them about their alcohol or drug abuse. This occurs frequently, and due to this, addiction specialists have begun to provide and conduct professional interventions. If your loved one’s behavior has become erratic, or their addiction has begun to spiral out of control, it may be time to consider hosting an addiction intervention. However, interventions are not 100% effective and you should always try to plan the intervention during the right phase of your loved one’s substance use disorder. Continue to reading to learn about the 5 signs that it is time for an intervention.
#1: Your Loved One’s Behavior Has Become a Danger to you or your Family
Individuals dealing with a substance use disorder frequently face challenges related to caring for or empathizing with their family members or those closest to them. If your loved one’s behavior has become destructive and dangerous, it may be time to consider having an addiction intervention.
Oftentimes, addicts or alcoholics engage in destructive behavior, such as overdosing or passing out. Additionally, it is common for individuals with substance abuse issues to drive while intoxicated as well as drinking alcohol or doing drugs in front of children. Dealing with this form of behavior creates a huge strain between the entire family, often causing extreme anxiety and sometimes the development of trauma.
When you begin to see your loved one experience an increased inability to make the right decisions regarding their wellbeing or your own, its time to talk about an addiction intervention. Unfortunately, in many cases, this type of behavior will only intensify as time goes on. Addiction and alcoholism are progressive diseases and should be treated as such. If you believe your loved one is in need of addiction intervention, professional help is available.
#2: An Increase in Lying or Manipulating
Oftentimes, the loved ones of addicts are unaware of their suffering family member’s whereabouts. This is commonly due to the addict lying, in order to drink or do drugs in privacy. When your loved one begins doing anything they can to hide the truth, it may be time for an addiction intervention. While it true that addiction creates a physical and chemical dependency that can cause irrational behaviors, your loved one still knows what is right from wrong. Their substance abuse may lead to lies that build upon each other, worsening over time. If this begins to happen, they may require an addiction intervention in order to persuade them to receive help.
#3: Drug or Alcohol use Becomes Uncontrollable
An individual will begin to increase the number of drugs or alcohol they use as substance abuse worsens. If you notice signs of uncontrollable use, an addiction intervention may be necessary.
The signs of an uncontrollable level of use, or addiction, include:
- Stopping to get a drink on the way home from work every day, often coming home later each week
- Drinking or using drugs first thing in the morning
- The need to seek out more and more of the substance because the amount they have is not enough (tolerance)
Those suffering from addiction typically find themselves building tolerance rather quickly. In other words, the individual will need more of the substance, or substances with more intense effects, to receive the same desired high.
#4: Their Physical and/or Mental Health is Worsening
Individuals with a substance abuse issue typically try their best to hide it. However, after some time, hiding the effects of their drug or alcohol addiction will become nearly impossible. If your loved one begins to experience adverse physical or mental effects as a result of their substance abuse, it is time for a professional addiction intervention. For example, you may notice that your loved one looks sick, or more pale than usual. Another significant sign is a rapid loss or gain of weight that is unusual for your loved one.
It is also important to take notice of any adverse psychological or behavioral changes in your loved one. Oftentimes, when addiction begins to intensify, individuals will be easily angered or even withdrawn from family members and friends. This withdrawn behavior is a sign of severe addiction, as well as a cry for help. If this sounds like your loved one, it might be time for an addiction intervention.
#5: Other Conversations About Treatment Haven’t Worked
If you have tried to convince your loved one to attend treatment time after time, with no success, it may be time for a professional addiction intervention. During an intervention, each family member and friend gets a chance to voice their concerns and worries in regards to their loved one’s addiction. Not only does this appeal to your loved one’s emotions, but it may also help you receive closure for traumatic events you have witnessed or lived through as a result of their drug or alcohol abuse. Additionally, interventions allow you to set boundaries with your loved one, such as cutting them off financially until they receive professional addiction treatment. While it is never easy to decide to intervene in your loved one’s substance abuse, it could potentially save their life.
Addiction and Substance Abuse Help
At CWC Recovery, we prioritize our substance abuse patient’s needs by creating an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan. In doing so, our patients receive the best possible foundation of recovery before leaving treatment – reducing their risk of relapse. If you or a loved one are in need of an addiction intervention or a substance abuse treatment program, contact us today!
