Free Essay Example - Alcohol Abuse Intervention Program

In a family, it is hard for the members to see one of them suffering from severe alcohol addiction. It can take a toll on their lives, and the situation brings up many uncertainties. They can feel afraid to talk to the affected individual, and they may also feel alone as they do not know how to handle the situation. Alcohol addiction affects an individual's life in many ways, and the people around them also feel the effects. The effects get worse if the family members do not think that the affected individual is making progress in dealing with the addiction problem. However, the situation can be dealt with using an intervention program, despite talking someone out of addiction is a challenging endeavor.

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Uncertainties always rotate around individuals trying to help someone out of alcohol addiction. They may feel that their efforts are useless as the affected individual always go back to their old ways. However, addiction is not always a choice as one may start using alcohol and, with time, get addicted unknowingly. They may not want to continue with the use of alcohol, but they are stuck as they experience withdrawal symptoms every time they try to stop. Therefore, the addicted individual turns to drink at any time to get comfortable. It becomes a lifestyle for them, and an intervention program comes in handy. An intervention program can always start at home before transitioning the individual to a professional if necessary, or when family members cannot handle the case.

Intervention

An individual that is severely addicted to alcohol should ask for help, but it sounds easy when said than it is to perform. They may not even know that they are addicted unless someone tells them about it. Therefore, people around such a person should spell out the problem to them. Individuals around the addicted person should seriously confront them but lovingly for them to understand what is going on in their lives and their severity (Kania & Cale, 2018). Intervention is not an easy task, but all parties must benefit. It brings peace, and everyone can continue with their lives while supporting each other. Individual with severe alcohol addiction in many cases does not realize their condition and how it is affecting them and the people around them.

In an intervention, it is vital to select a neutral ground to confront the addicted person so that they can feel comfortable, and they may be able to listen. The intervention process can take up to a month, depending on the response from the addicted individual. Intervention should not be done if the person is high on alcohol, but when they are sober. It is best to stay loving to evoke a positive reaction from the addicted individual and should not be like an attack. The family members can consult a professional about the process and how to convince the individual to get on treatment. The family members can refer to the following resources:

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction available from drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction

Principle of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide: available from drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-populations-research-based-guideThe Necessity of Intervention in Alcohol Addiction

People may feel nervous when doing an intervention, and it is normal. They need to identify the signs of severe alcohol addiction using the following indicators. The individual cannot avoid taking alcohol; therefore, they take it frequently, and they cannot control their intake amounts. The individual is at risk of harming themselves physically and health-wise. The person is always defensive about their situation, and they get uncomfortable when the topic is brought up. They do not know how their condition is affecting the people around them, and they become irresponsible about their behaviors (Kania & Cale, 2018). Addiction has led to the deterioration of their health. If the people around such an individual are not sure about completing the intervention successfully, they should consult a professional.

The Dos and Don'ts

An alcohol intervention involves talking to an addicted individual collectively by close people around them, spelling out their concerns on the situation. It is crucial to avoid anger and criticism as it may put off the individual, and they may respond negatively. The target is to show the individual how much people care about them and that they are concerned about their condition and that they would not want to see them lose their personality or life to alcohol addiction (Lila et al., 2017). It is, therefore, essential to employ the right strategies to evoke a positive reaction.

The Dos

The intervention should only include the people that the addicted individual trust at the minimum. It means that they can get comfortable with the situation, and they can avoid emotional imbalances. It shows how important it is to surround them with people they can relate with at a personal level as the issue is a crucial one. It is because the conversation gets very personal, and the affected individual needs to feel the seriousness of the matter. People who should not be included are those that the addicted individual does not like or have mental disorders (Lila et al., 2017). They should not also be victims of substance abuse. Individuals who cannot control their emotions or what they say as planned should not be allowed in the intervention as they may spoil the program.

The next thing is to select an appropriate location. It should be a neutral place, and everyone involved should be comfortable. The people performing the intervention should go through what they are planning to tell the individual beforehand so that they do not mix themselves up, or deviate to irrelevant issues. They should decide on what to cover and what to ignore. The intervention team should look for the best time to go on with the process, and it should be a happy moment for everyone involved. It is important to research the alcohol abuse problem that the addicted individual has. It helps everyone involved to understand what the situation is, and they can adjust their approach accordingly. The team should select one individual who will do most of the talking as it can get worse if people mix up themselves during the process. It ensures effective communication throughout the intervention process, as the main points are passed on successfully (Lila et al., 2017). Even with one person pushing through the main points, everyone involved must be up to speed with the agenda of the intervention. In case of any updates, it should be communicated with tools such as messaging or social media groups, therefore making good use of technology.

The intervention team should be ready for objections from the addicted person. It shows that the level of preparedness is key to the success of the program. Therefore, the team should come up with appropriate responses, and they should be presented calmly and rationally to prevent provoking the addicted individual. It means that the addicted person should feel a level of support so that they do not think that they are alone in the process as they are presented with treatment options. They should be treated with respect and love, and hostility should not be at the back of anyone's mind as it will spoil the whole process.

The intervention team should stick to the laid out plan, no matter what happens in the meeting from various emotions and reactions. It is essential to adhere to the program to maintain consistency so as not to stray from the main points in the conversation. The addicted individual should not be given much time to decide on the treatment options they would like to take (Lila et al., 2017). The decision should be immediate, as waiting for a later time can make them think differently, and they will shy away from the intervention.

The Don'ts

It is essential to understand that many things can go wrong. One is preparation, as the people doing the intervention should always get ready. If they do not prepare, they may not address the issue appropriately, rehearsing a necessity. The addicted individual should, however, feel targeted, but the people doing it should be highly prepared (Schwinn et al., 2019). The addicted person should not be expecting the intervention as they can prepare to stray away from the main issues being addressed. With the intervention team ready, the process can go on smoothly.

The intervention team should avoid blaming each other or the addicted person during an intervention. It makes everyone uncomfortable, especially the addicted person that the team is aiming to help. A blame game does not benefit anyone in the process, but it makes things worse. It makes it difficult for the intervention to become fruitful in coming up with a solution for the addicted person. It will, however, bring about negativity in the meeting, which makes it difficult for the intervention to be successful (Schwinn et al., 2019). It can hurt the addicted individual in the conversation, and it can be challenging to reverse the damages. Another thing to avoid is doing the intervention when the individual is high on alcohol. It is terrible timing, and the conversation may not head anywhere as alcohol causes

Professional Advice

The intervention team must seek professional advice before going ahead with the process. A professional help identify the key issues to address, and they can gauge the severity of the condition so that they can give the best recommendations. An addicted individual may require more than intervention, and that is where the professional comes in as they may suggest day treatment or outpatient treatment programs. If the condition cannot be dealt with by the above treatment options, the affected individual may have to be admitted for treatment, especially if the addicted person has an underlying health problem (Schwinn et al., 2019).

When seeking professional advice, there are tips to get the best out of it. One is to ask the expert about the available treatment options and the most appropriate ones. The intervention team can contact support groups or alcohol and drug abuse to get more advice on treatment options and intervention. The intervention team should, however, be keen to avoid different treatment options as they may bring more harm than good (Spicer & Miller, 2016). Support groups are essential as they can help the addicted individual after the intervention to overcome the problem.

When Intervention Fails

An intervention does not mean that it will be successful. The addicted individual can react negatively to the process, and they can ignore the suggestions or treatment options presented to them. Emotional reactions like anger are normal in intervention programs and especially in the first attempt. The intervention team can reevaluate the process at a later time and seek more professional advice and try it another time. Before an intervention fails, it is essential to be emotionally ready for all scenarios as it can be hurting, especially if the addicted person is very close (Spicer & Miller, 2016). However, it is essential not to give up even though it can be overwhelming.

Alcohol addiction affects everyone around the person in the picture. It can result in spreading the culture to the people around them, violence, and disarray of emotions. Therefore, if the intervention is not successful, it is crucial to remove the vulnerable people around the addict, like small kids, teenagers, and the elderly. It is vital as the above individuals can hardly protect themselves from the effects of living with an alcohol addict (Spicer & Miller, 2016).