It can be frustrating to see a friend or family member struggling with alcohol addiction and knowing there is very little you can do to help. You might feel powerless, scared, or lost in the situation, unable to speak honestly with them about their addiction and how it has affected you. If you have been experiencing any of these emotions, staging an alcohol intervention could be a valuable tool for getting your loved one to understand how their alcoholism impacts you. This page will look at alcohol interventions, exploring their effectiveness and the ways they can help get through to your loved one, all from a place of compassion and understanding.
Interventions for alcoholism According to the charity Alcohol Concern, more than 600,000 people in England are, at the time of writing this, classed as dependent drinkers. However, less than 20% are accessing the treatment they need to get better. Encouraging someone you love to seek treatment for their alcoholism is tough; many are not ready to accept that their use of the substance is not recreational but rather a crutch that has consequences on their own life and the lives of others. What is difficult about alcohol addiction is that it is usually easier for family members and friends to see than for the person suffering from it. In times like these, it is important to remember that your loved one might be struggling to see what is obvious to you because they are so entrenched in their addiction. This is where intervention comes in. When a group of friends and family that your loved one respects and cared for come together with mutual concern, this can prove to them just how unmanageable their addiction has become.
Alcoholic Intervention
An alcohol intervention aims to meet with an alcoholic, helping them to accept that the problem exists and present the opportunity for support.
When is the right time to stage an alcohol interventionWhile it is hard to tell if it is time to stage an alcohol intervention for your loved one? It is important to watch for the signs that it might be time to stage an intervention. You are becoming increasingly fearful of your loved one’s behaviour when they drink. It is unpredictable and not reflective of their character. Your loved one’s actions are noticeably more dangerous and are beginning to threaten you and your loved ones. You are afraid to be around them when they drink. You have already tried to talk to them about their alcohol use, but it has not helped.
What if my loved one refuses treatment? While interventions for alcoholism are often successful when done correctly, it is also important to set realistic expectations, preparing yourself for the possibility that your loved one may refuse to accept treatment after you have offered it to them. Remember, alcohol addiction is an illness that takes a great deal of time and dedication to overcome. Your loved one must make the choice to seek help, and arranging an intervention will not guarantee this. However, suppose they do not take the help. In that case, this does not mean you have failed, and you will still have had an excellent opportunity to set clear, healthy boundaries, opening up a dialogue throughout the intervention.
Certified Intervention Professional
The Association of Intervention Specialists offers this definition of interventionist: “The interventionist is the individual who helps identify the appropriate people in the life of a person who is experiencing substance use, mental, or behavioral health problems that will become an influential part of a recovery team… The interventionist supports, educates, provides guidance, direction, and training, as well as the facilitation of the intervention and aftercare.”
In the simplest terms, an interventionist organizes and facilitates interventions.
An interventionist must earn accreditation through an official body to join the Association of Intervention Specialists or similar organizations. For example, the Pennsylvania Certification Board is responsible for granting credentials in Pennsylvania. There is an exhaustive process that one must complete to gain certification.
The board refers to these practitioners as Certified Intervention Professionals (CIP). A CIP credential is “for professionals who have the primary role of facilitation and participation in substance use interventions. Intervention professionals guide families, friends and others through an intervention process where the substance user is encouraged to accept help. The CIP is not a marketer or recruiter for a treatment facility; rather they are a front-line professional who is directly engagingan individual and family to help guide them to treatment and is a part of the recovery team.”
In order to get board certified, the applicant must already have significant experience and knowledge in the field. Take note of the following qualifications for the CIP accreditation:
Two years of work experience providing direct substance use intervention and related services 50% of the time.
Participation in five interventions and facilitating five interventions within the last three years for ten interventions.
One hundred fifty hours of education relevant to domains. The following hours must be included within the required hours: 20 hours in intervention theory and practice; 12 hours in family systems; 12 hours in motivational interviewing; 12 hours specific to addiction; 6 hours in crisis intervention; 6 hours in behavioural health ethics.
The above is an abridged list of all CIP requirements. The bottom line is that the most committed interventionists also commit to earning this certification.