There has been a false idea promoted to family members that their loved one must hit "rock bottom" because they have to want to get better. This is only a partial truth, at best. The fact of the matter is that all addicts require some type of intervention to stop or they wouldn't have become addicted in the first place. Some outside person, source or influence must make it known that what they're doing to themselves and others is not okay and that it must stop. An addict only needs the slightist inclination that their lives could be bettered by not using drugs - they don't have to be whole-heartedly willing to go to a long term program. If people waited for that to happen then there would be a lot less people getting off of drugs each year.

Intervention could come in many forms, and sometimes society will do it in the form of getting arrested and the addict being faced with possibly going to prison for a long time or going to a treatment center. Although it may not be the most ideal situation, somteimtes it is a blessing in disguise.

Types of Interventions

Probably the most common type of addiction intervention is the family intervention. This is simply where one or more family members tells the addict that they can no longer allow themselves to continue using drugs or alcohol and present the solution of a successful rehabilitation center. When family interventions don't work or when they would like to have a professional present as well, then an intervention specialist can be hired. There are some very qualified and effective intervention specialists that we can recommend, or most treatment centers should have interventionsists that they often work with and could.