When to Intervene: Pretreatment Interventions with the Help of an Alcohol and Drug Interventionist

When an Intervention is Necessary

There comes a point in almost every person’s life when he or she succumbs to the unyielding pressures that exist in our everyday lives. For some, this could mean taking an expensive vacation and putting the rest of his or her life on hold. For others this could mean spending hundreds of dollars at the mall—or what some call “retail therapy.” And for some, this could mean turning to drugs and/or alcohol to get through the day. For those people who submit to unhealthy actions such as drug addiction, alcohol abuse, shopping addiction, gambling addiction, etc., an intervention may be necessary.

Using an Alcohol and Drug Interventionist

An intervention is an action undertaken in order to change what is happening or might happen in another’s affairs, especially in order to prevent something undesirable. While a shopping addiction, a sex addiction, or a gambling addiction might not be what some call “life-threatening,” they can be extremely damaging to an individuals life. Regardless of whether or not there is a health risk, if a person is displaying symptoms of any type of addiction, do not wait to get them help. In many cases, the help of a professional interventionist, such as an alcohol or drug interventionist may be useful.

Pretreatment Intervention

Oftentimes, people wait until a catastrophic event, such as a drug overdose, to get an individual the help that they need. However, waiting for an event such as this to take place is not the best strategy. While it is true that having experienced a traumatic event like a drug overdose may provide an individual with the motivation to get help, this doesn’t mean that you must wait for something like this to happen. Preventative steps can be taken, and an intervention can occur before a person damages his or her physical health and/or emotional health. A pretreatment intervention involves family members, close friends, and often a professional interventionist. Personal confrontations with the individual may be just what they need to recognize their addiction or unhealthy actions.