Substance Use Disorder Interventions
From Drug Use to Drug Abuse
More often than not, drug addictions start with experimental use of a drug in social situations. For some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. As time passes, a person may feel the need to use more of a drug to get their desired high, and soon a person may need the drug to simply function. It is usually at this stage that an Intervention is necessary to help break the cycle of destruction.
How to determine when there is a crisis and an Intervention is necessary;
Drug addiction symptoms and behaviors include, but are not limited to the following:
- Feeling the need to use the drug regularly, which can be daily or multiple times a day
- Having intense urges for the drug
- Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
- Making certain that supply of the drug is always maintained
- Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities
- Doing things one wouldn’t normally do to get the drug, such as stealing
- Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the drug
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
- Failed attempts to quit using the drug
If your loved one is displaying one or more of the above symptoms or behaviors, it may be time to consider substance use disorder intervention.
As the interventionist, I will walk through the process with the family or those that are concerned in approaching their loved one to address the symptoms of addiction and the related areas of impaired functioning.
What to expect & how Interventions work.
Intervention Stages
Watching loved ones struggling with addictions and/or alcoholism challenges, and not able to do anything about it can be one of the most painful and heart-wrenching experiences for family members and or friends. It is important to work together to stop or at least manage an individual’s use of drugs and/or alcohol.
At New Horizon Interventions we help navigate this process and provide families and/or friends with the necessary skills to become better equipped and to better understand the complexities of addiction and/or alcoholism and how to overcome it’s challenges.
Family Assessment Meeting:
- Develop a thorough assessment and intervention treatment plan for the identified individual and family affected by the active addiction/alcoholism challenges.
- Decide what style of intervention will be most appropriate.
Intervention Preparation Planning Meeting:
- Educate the intervention team (the loved ones/family/friends) on the cycle of addiction, mental health challenges, recovery treatment process.
Treatment Referrals:
- The treatment placement process includes gathering information about the family’s insurance policy and/or private pay budget.
- Coordination takes place interventionist, family and treatment program(s) that best fit the patient’s needs.
Intervention Meeting:
- The Intervention meeting includes the intervention team and the identified individual.
- The Intervention is directed by the Certified Intervention professional.
Travel Coordination:
- The Certified Intervention Professional supports the family in making travel arrangements with the selected treatment program for the identified individual, with clear steps, goals, and guidelines.
Intervention Aftercare Services:
- Post-intervention/aftercare case management is recommended.
- Studies have shown that individuals and families that participate in aftercare and case management services have a higher level of success.
Post Intervention Outcomes:
- Intervention outcome studies indicate that 85% of identified individuals accept treatment the day of the intervention meeting and 15% enter treatment within two weeks after the intervention.
- Talk to the intervention team to avoid enabling the destructive cycle of behavior and take active steps to encourage positive change.
- Studies have shown that individuals and families that participate in aftercare and case management services have a higher level of success.