Intervention Services
Intervention Services in Massachusetts Provided by Mayflower Detox and Addiction Treatment
What should someone do when they start to notice signs of a substance use disorder in a loved one?
First, they should know that they are not alone. Research has found that the rate of substance use disorders in American adults has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the link between COVID-19 and substance use? For many people, the feelings of uncertainty and isolation are too much to bear. Feeling alone or without support can contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression and can give way to substance use as a coping mechanism.
Alcohol rehabs in MA and drug rehabs in MA are great resources for Massachusetts adults who are struggling with a substance use disorder. The question is, how can someone convince their loved ones to check into a rehab center?
Intervention can make a huge difference, especially when someone feels alone or isolated. Our addiction treatment specialists at Mayflower Detox and Addiction Treatment can help.
What Is an Intervention?
First, it’s important to define what an intervention is and is not. An intervention involves family, friends, and facilitators. Together, they provide accountability and support for an individual with a substance use disorder.
The objective is to confront the struggling individual about the consequences of their substance use disorder. The goal is to help them to seek recovery treatment.
It’s important to note that most of the time, the affected individual is not aware that an intervention is coming. It is crucial that anyone involved in the intervention is participating in a carefully constructed plan. Everyone should be on the same page in terms of intentions and goals.
Intervention Services in Massachusetts
Safe and Effective Way to Begin Your Recovery Journey
The Structure of an Intervention
To get a better sense of how an intervention works, let’s take a look at the potential structure of an intervention. We will also discuss talking points of an appropriate intervention.
First, it is important to hold an intervention in a space that won’t make the affected individual feel unsafe or attacked. For example, an appropriate space might be the home of a loved one. An inappropriate space would be the affected individual’s place of work.
Second, it is important to establish a specific intervention team and for the team to make a plan beforehand. During the planning phase, each team member should discuss what they will say. They should also decide on what the consequences will be if the affected individual does not commit to recovery.
During the intervention, it is appropriate for team members to discuss how their loved one’s substance use has impacted them. Each person may provide one or two examples, but it is important not to overwhelm the affected individual with a “laundry list” of every harm that they have caused.
Together, the team members should provide a thought-out course of recovery. This can include drug or alcohol detox, ATS detox, CSS residential treatment, and so forth.
Finally, each team member should share what the consequences will be if action isn’t taken. Examples include cutting off financial support, altering custody agreements, or requiring a change in a living situation.
In addition to our clinical team, our counselors and case managers will work with clients to develop a customized treatment plan and find services to guide them through the next phase of treatment and recovery.
How Can an Intervention Specialist Help?
A substance use interventionist is a mental health professional that can aid in the process of recovery. A friend, family, or peer-based intervention is only the first step. When the intervention team members establish goals, they should involve seeking professional help to both detox and recover long-term.
At Mayflower, we offer a rapid intake program. This will allow the affected individual to enter into rehabilitation as soon as possible. From there, they will undergo medically assisted detox to allow the substances to safely leave the body. Then, intervention specialists will help them to understand the underlying needs, trauma, or stressors that contribute to their substance use.
Recovering from an alcohol or drug use disorder takes more than just cessation. It helps to think of substance use as an extreme coping mechanism. In a rehabilitation setting, clients can learn what the root of this coping mechanism is and how to replace it with something less harmful.
In sum, an initial intervention is designed to confront someone who is struggling with substance abuse. The goal is to encourage recovery and provide potential recovery options. Professional intervention is designed to make recovery not only accessible but long-lasting.
Signs That Someone May Need Substance Use Intervention
What are some of the signs that someone may need substance use intervention?
There are many signs that an initial intervention may be a necessary catalyst for change. For example, the affected individual may be in denial about the disorder. They may not understand how it is impacting others.
There are also many signs that someone is struggling with a substance use disorder, in the first place. This can include physical signs like a sudden change in weight and tremors or slurred speech. It can also include behavioral or psychological signs like the shirking of responsibilities or a new sense of paranoia.
When a friend or family member starts to notice these signs in a loved one, it’s important to act fast.
Many people who are struggling with a substance use disorder feel alone. They may be unaware or in denial about the dangers and harms caused by their substance use. Acting fast can not only prevent damage to important relationships but can also save lives.
Let Our Massachusetts Invertentionist Help Your Family
More and more families in America have been affected by substance use disorders. If your family is one of them, it’s important to act fast. Your choice to intervene can make a difference and encourage your loved one to enter into an alcohol rehab or drug rehab program.
We provide specialized addiction treatment in Massachusetts. To find out more about Mayflower’s intervention specialists and programs, contact us today.