How Does an Intervention Work?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Exactly Is an Intervention?How Interventions WorkEffectivenessTypes of InterventionsAlternativesSteps to ConsiderPotential Pitfalls

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Exactly Is an Intervention?

How Interventions Work

Effectiveness

Types of Interventions

Alternatives

Steps to Consider

Potential Pitfalls

Interventions do happen, but they should take place in a controlled environment under the supervision and guidance of a trained mental health professional. They are certainly not the only way to get someone you care about to get the help they need. So, let’s take a closer look at how interventions work, what you should consider if you decide to try one, and alternatives that may actually be a lot more effective.

At a GlanceIf your loved one has a substance use problem, a mental health professional may suggest an intervention where members of a team (which may include professionals, friends, and family members) talk to the individual about their substance use and steps that might help them achieve sobriety. Research your options and meet with professionals to make a plan. During an intervention, establish boundaries and make consequences clear, but be aware of the risks; interventions can lead to rifts in relationships that can worsen addiction.Also, be aware that an intervention isn’t the only option. Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is the preferred approach. It can help people improve their situation, develop stronger communication skills, and increase the likelihood of engaging in treatment.

At a Glance

If your loved one has a substance use problem, a mental health professional may suggest an intervention where members of a team (which may include professionals, friends, and family members) talk to the individual about their substance use and steps that might help them achieve sobriety. Research your options and meet with professionals to make a plan. During an intervention, establish boundaries and make consequences clear, but be aware of the risks; interventions can lead to rifts in relationships that can worsen addiction.Also, be aware that an intervention isn’t the only option. Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is the preferred approach. It can help people improve their situation, develop stronger communication skills, and increase the likelihood of engaging in treatment.

If your loved one has a substance use problem, a mental health professional may suggest an intervention where members of a team (which may include professionals, friends, and family members) talk to the individual about their substance use and steps that might help them achieve sobriety. Research your options and meet with professionals to make a plan. During an intervention, establish boundaries and make consequences clear, but be aware of the risks; interventions can lead to rifts in relationships that can worsen addiction.

Also, be aware that an intervention isn’t the only option. Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is the preferred approach. It can help people improve their situation, develop stronger communication skills, and increase the likelihood of engaging in treatment.

In the context of substance use and recovery, an intervention is an organized attempt to confront someone with an addiction about how their drinking, drug use, or addiction-related behavior has affected everyone around them.

Aninterventionprovides family, friends, and sometimes even colleagues and employers an opportunity to tell someone in their own words how the person’s use of drugs or alcohol has been a problem in their lives.

The term “intervention” can be confusing because it can be used to refer to the various therapeutic approaches used to treat addiction, many of which are evidence-based and effective. These includemotivational interviewing,cognitive behavioral therapy, andcouples therapy. Theseevidence-based treatmentstypically take time and commitment on the part of the person with the addiction but are generally helpful.

Secrets to Stopping Alcohol Cravings With Dr. John Umhau

Most alcohol and drug treatment centers have counselors who are trained to help families prepare for a confrontation, which always takes place in a “controlled” environment, specifically selected to put the person in a position in which they are most likely to listen. Many times, these interventions take place in the workplace, with the full cooperation of the employer.

Sometimes the intervention comes as a total surprise. But newer techniques recommend that the members of the intervention team tell the person with the addiction that they will be talking with a counselor about their drinking or drug use several days prior to the actual intervention.

When Are Interventions Used?Examples of substance and behavioral addictions that may prompt an intervention include:Alcohol usePrescription drug misuseIllicit drug useCompulsive eatingCompulsive gambling

When Are Interventions Used?

Examples of substance and behavioral addictions that may prompt an intervention include:Alcohol usePrescription drug misuseIllicit drug useCompulsive eatingCompulsive gambling

Examples of substance and behavioral addictions that may prompt an intervention include:

Do Interventions Work?

From a professional standpoint, interventions are generally not recommended simply because there is not enough research available to support their effectiveness. That doesn’t mean they can’t be effective; it just means that the studies required to demonstrate their effectiveness have not yet been carried out.

Dr. Nelson notes that there is not much research regarding the efficacy of these types of interventions. However, they may be helpful in getting family members and friends to come together with regard to settingboundaries.

It may be successful at limit-setting in a situation where there are destructive behaviors affecting the family and friends of the substance-using person. It may also be a step that may contribute, in the end, to a positive outcome, and that in itself can be helpful.—BEAU NELSON, DBH, LCSW

It may be successful at limit-setting in a situation where there are destructive behaviors affecting the family and friends of the substance-using person. It may also be a step that may contribute, in the end, to a positive outcome, and that in itself can be helpful.

—BEAU NELSON, DBH, LCSW

A few studies on the effectiveness of interventions in getting people into treatment were conducted during the 1980s and 1990s. They typically showed that family members chose not to follow through on confronting their loved one.

One study showed that when people did follow through on an intervention, they were able to get their loved one into treatment. But in the end, this was a very small number of people, and the outcome of therapy was not reported.

Bear in mind that all therapies—no matter how effective—were at one time unproven. These therapies went through experimental stages, refinements, and research until finally, enough studies were conducted showing their effectiveness that they became accepted practice. But just because they are accepted practice doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to work for everyone.

There is a lack of research to support the use of interventions. From an anecdotal perspective, however, interventions have mixed reviews.

Some clinicians have had the experience of working with people whose families have conducted interventions. In some cases, they report that interventions have been helpful in persuading their loved ones to get help.

Others have had much more negative reviews, in which the intervention was poorly conducted or the person with the addiction was not in a place to hear the feedback. In these situations, interventions caused an even greater problem for the person with the addiction and an even greater rift in their family.

“Making a break from an individual if the intervention does not receive the intervention well can often cause people to need support long after the intervention,” Dr. Nelson notes. “Self-care, emotional support, and dealing with implications means following up together as a group and using professional resources and groups like Al-Anon for continuing care.”

Recap

Intervention Types

There are several types of drug and alcohol interventions. The type of intervention that your medical professional recommends will depend on your goals, unique experience with addiction, and family dynamics.

Johnson Model

Invitation Model

Field Model

Similar to the Johnson Model, the Field Model involves a confrontational approach, where the person with the addiction has no prior knowledge. In this model, however, the interventionist is trained in handlingcrises during the intervention process and after. It’s often recommended if a family believes their loved one is a danger to themselves or if they haveuncontrolled co-morbid conditionslike depression or bipolar disorder.

Alternatives to an Intervention

Community Reinforcement and Family Training(CRAFT) is an evidence-based method for helping families get help for their loved ones. CRAFT has replaced interventions as the preferred method of getting help for people struggling with addiction.

Rather than targeting the person with the substance use disorder, this evidence-based method aims to work with the concerned significant others (CSOs) so that they can assist the identified patients (IPs).

The CRAFT program offers a gentle alternative to a heavy-handed confrontation, and the research suggests it may be a more effective way to help unmotivated loved ones get help for their substance-abuse problem.—JOHN UMHAU, MD

The CRAFT program offers a gentle alternative to a heavy-handed confrontation, and the research suggests it may be a more effective way to help unmotivated loved ones get help for their substance-abuse problem.

—JOHN UMHAU, MD

He also suggests that as a research-based program, CRAFT teaches practical steps that support recovery, with less of a risk of alienating people from the support systems that are vital for long-term success.

CRAFT helps CSOs to:

Evidence indicates that CRAFT is effective for helping CSOs in terms of treatment engagement. It also benefits their mental well-being and family cohesiveness.

If you decide to have an intervention for your loved one, you’ll need to take a few steps to help you prepare logistically and mentally.

Research Treatment Options

You’ll want to present your loved one with some detailed suggestions for treatment, so you’ll need to do your research ahead of time. If the person agrees to get help, it’s best to already have a treatment center, counselor, or meeting in mind so you can take action immediately.

Make sure to find out in advance whether your loved one’s insurance plan will cover treatment as well as what steps are required for admission, such as a referral from a primary care provider.

TheAmerican Board of Addiction Medicine(ABAM) provides specialized training and certification for physicians. Talking to an ABAM-certified physician is a great place to start when researching options.

The best approach to treating an addiction depends on many factors, including the substance being used, how severe the addiction is, the addicted person’s attitude towards treatment and quitting or cutting down, and whether they have concurrent mental and/or physical health problems.

Treatment options may include:

4 Stages of Alcohol and Drug Rehab Recovery

Choose an Interventionist

“Interventions should be coordinated and carefully planned with a licensed healthcare professional, along with family and friends of the person dealing with addiction,” explainsAntonello Bonci, MD, the executive chairman of VITA Recovery.

“Professionals are necessary to help the individuals conducting the intervention organize their thoughts and feelings, strategize responses to each person’s reactions, focus on making loved ones feel special and cared for rather than attacked, and to help create treatment and long-term care plans,” Dr. Bonci explains.

Unfortunately, there is no current system for evaluating the credentials of interventionists and very little information on which to base your decision. If you feel an intervention might be right for your loved one, consider the following common-sense considerations. These are not based on medical fact or research, but they may help you think about whether to employ an interventionist:

Gather an Intervention Team

Depending on the situation, an intervention can involve the following people:

“Intervention events should also be thoughtfully timed so as not to occur during a high-stress time, like during work or relationship transitions,” recommends Dr. Bonci.

It’s also important to consider who should not be on the intervention team. Someone your loved one dislikes or a person with an unmanaged mental health condition or substance use disorder is usually not a good fit.

Give Consequences

Members of the intervention team should be prepared for the individual to respond with anger or another strong emotional reaction.  Regardless of the reaction, following through is essential. “They need to be prepared to enforce the consequences they set,” Dr. Nelson emphasizes.

While you’re not trying to punish your loved one, you do want them to understand that there are consequences if they refuse to seek help.

Such consequences may include:

“During the intervention, loved ones should be careful to avoid blame, shame, and yelling, and be as specific as possible with relaying facts about how the person’s substance use has affected their lives,” Dr. Bonci recommends.

Be sure to state any consequences clearly and don’t make any threats you’re not willing to carry out.

Is Tough Love Effective in Treating Addiction?

Know the Risks

Professional intervention is not an option for every family and every situation. The decision to choose the intervention path is one that should be made carefully and with the advice of an experienced counselor.

Confronting someone with an addiction is a very risky approach. It can easily backfire, making the person experiencing addiction feel attacked, alienated, and misunderstood instead of supported.

John Umhau, MDOne unfortunate result of an intervention can be a rift in family support that might otherwise provide long-term encouragement for recovery.

John Umhau, MD

One unfortunate result of an intervention can be a rift in family support that might otherwise provide long-term encouragement for recovery.

You may not be able to persuade your loved one into treatment. In fact, trying to do so may actually make both their addiction and your relationship with them worse.

In these cases, an intervention can worsen an addiction. They may cause the person to seek comfort in alcohol and drugs, and to seek out the company of those who “understand,” such as drinking buddies and drug dealers.

Seek Support

Whether or not your loved one decides to seek help, you can likely benefit from the encouragement and support of others in your situation. Many support groups, includingAl-Anon, help family members understand that they are not responsible for their loved one’s addiction and that they need to take steps to care for themselves regardless of whether or not the person they care for seeks treatment.

Dr. Nelson notes that family and friends need support even if they are able to convince their loved one to enter treatment. “The people in their life still need to take care of each other, create a strong support system, and utilize professional resources for education and guidance as the family and friends navigate the recovery process with their loved one,” he says.

How to Help an Addict: Resources and Treatment

Many people working in the field of addiction know what they are doing and genuinely want to help their clients. But there are others who just want your money, and will prey on the desperation of loved ones who are looking for a miracle cure. There are no miracle cures, and overcoming addiction is hard work, especially for the person with a substance use disorder.

Part of why interventions are so appealing, and also so unlikely to be effective, is that they offer the dream of a simple solution to an incredibly complex situation.

Although some people can overcome severe addictions on their own, it takes great determination and access to alternative ways of coping to do this. For many others, overcoming addiction requires treatment, and it often takes many attempts to quit alcohol and drugs completely.

Takeaways

Ultimately, it is important to remember that an intervention is no quick fix, even if it leads to the individual entering treatment. Long-term support, care, and effective treatments are needed for success.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

An Overview of Substance Use

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liepman MR, Nirenberg TD, Begin AM.Evaluation of a program designed to help family and significant others to motivate resistant alcoholics into recovery.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1989;15(2):209-21. doi:10.3109/00952998909092721Polcin DL, Mulia N, Jones L.Substance users' perspectives on helpful and unhelpful confrontation: implications for recovery.J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012;44(2):144-152. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.684626Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the Johnson Model of intervention?.Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the family systemic model?.Hellum R, Nielsen AS, Bischof G, et al.Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) - design of a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing individual, group and self-help interventions.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):307. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6632-5Miller WR, Meyers RJ, Tonigan JS.Engaging the unmotivated in treatment for alcohol problems: a comparison of three strategies for intervention through family members.J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999;67(5):688-97. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.67.5.688Bischof G, Iwen J, Freyer-Adam J, Rumpf HJ.Efficacy of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training for concerned significant others of treatment-refusing individuals with alcohol dependence: A randomized controlled trial.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016;163:179-85. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.015American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.Additional ReadingClark CD.Tough love: A brief cultural history of the addiction intervention.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(3):233-46. doi:10.1037/a0025649Houck JM, Forcehimes AA, Davis M, Bogenschutz MP.Qualitative and quantitative feedback following workshop training in evidence-based practices: A dissemination study.Prof Psychol Res Pr.2016;47(6):413-417. doi:10.1037/pro0000107Meyers RJ, Wolfe BL.Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening. Simon and Schuster.Milller WR, Rollnick S.Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change.Third Edition. Guilford.

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liepman MR, Nirenberg TD, Begin AM.Evaluation of a program designed to help family and significant others to motivate resistant alcoholics into recovery.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1989;15(2):209-21. doi:10.3109/00952998909092721Polcin DL, Mulia N, Jones L.Substance users' perspectives on helpful and unhelpful confrontation: implications for recovery.J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012;44(2):144-152. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.684626Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the Johnson Model of intervention?.Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the family systemic model?.Hellum R, Nielsen AS, Bischof G, et al.Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) - design of a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing individual, group and self-help interventions.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):307. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6632-5Miller WR, Meyers RJ, Tonigan JS.Engaging the unmotivated in treatment for alcohol problems: a comparison of three strategies for intervention through family members.J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999;67(5):688-97. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.67.5.688Bischof G, Iwen J, Freyer-Adam J, Rumpf HJ.Efficacy of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training for concerned significant others of treatment-refusing individuals with alcohol dependence: A randomized controlled trial.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016;163:179-85. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.015American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.Additional ReadingClark CD.Tough love: A brief cultural history of the addiction intervention.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(3):233-46. doi:10.1037/a0025649Houck JM, Forcehimes AA, Davis M, Bogenschutz MP.Qualitative and quantitative feedback following workshop training in evidence-based practices: A dissemination study.Prof Psychol Res Pr.2016;47(6):413-417. doi:10.1037/pro0000107Meyers RJ, Wolfe BL.Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening. Simon and Schuster.Milller WR, Rollnick S.Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change.Third Edition. Guilford.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Liepman MR, Nirenberg TD, Begin AM.Evaluation of a program designed to help family and significant others to motivate resistant alcoholics into recovery.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1989;15(2):209-21. doi:10.3109/00952998909092721Polcin DL, Mulia N, Jones L.Substance users' perspectives on helpful and unhelpful confrontation: implications for recovery.J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012;44(2):144-152. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.684626Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the Johnson Model of intervention?.Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the family systemic model?.Hellum R, Nielsen AS, Bischof G, et al.Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) - design of a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing individual, group and self-help interventions.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):307. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6632-5Miller WR, Meyers RJ, Tonigan JS.Engaging the unmotivated in treatment for alcohol problems: a comparison of three strategies for intervention through family members.J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999;67(5):688-97. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.67.5.688Bischof G, Iwen J, Freyer-Adam J, Rumpf HJ.Efficacy of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training for concerned significant others of treatment-refusing individuals with alcohol dependence: A randomized controlled trial.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016;163:179-85. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.015American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.

Liepman MR, Nirenberg TD, Begin AM.Evaluation of a program designed to help family and significant others to motivate resistant alcoholics into recovery.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1989;15(2):209-21. doi:10.3109/00952998909092721

Polcin DL, Mulia N, Jones L.Substance users' perspectives on helpful and unhelpful confrontation: implications for recovery.J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012;44(2):144-152. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.684626

Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the Johnson Model of intervention?.

Association of Intervention Specialists.What is the family systemic model?.

Hellum R, Nielsen AS, Bischof G, et al.Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) - design of a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing individual, group and self-help interventions.BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):307. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6632-5

Miller WR, Meyers RJ, Tonigan JS.Engaging the unmotivated in treatment for alcohol problems: a comparison of three strategies for intervention through family members.J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999;67(5):688-97. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.67.5.688

Bischof G, Iwen J, Freyer-Adam J, Rumpf HJ.Efficacy of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training for concerned significant others of treatment-refusing individuals with alcohol dependence: A randomized controlled trial.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016;163:179-85. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.015

American Society of Addiction Medicine.Definition of addiction.

Clark CD.Tough love: A brief cultural history of the addiction intervention.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(3):233-46. doi:10.1037/a0025649Houck JM, Forcehimes AA, Davis M, Bogenschutz MP.Qualitative and quantitative feedback following workshop training in evidence-based practices: A dissemination study.Prof Psychol Res Pr.2016;47(6):413-417. doi:10.1037/pro0000107Meyers RJ, Wolfe BL.Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening. Simon and Schuster.Milller WR, Rollnick S.Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change.Third Edition. Guilford.

Clark CD.Tough love: A brief cultural history of the addiction intervention.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(3):233-46. doi:10.1037/a0025649

Houck JM, Forcehimes AA, Davis M, Bogenschutz MP.Qualitative and quantitative feedback following workshop training in evidence-based practices: A dissemination study.Prof Psychol Res Pr.2016;47(6):413-417. doi:10.1037/pro0000107

Meyers RJ, Wolfe BL.Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening. Simon and Schuster.

Milller WR, Rollnick S.Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change.Third Edition. Guilford.

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