drug INTERVENTION FAQS:
Q: I have a family member/friend/coworker who is abusing Oxycontin. How can I get them the help they need?
A: When an individual is unwilling or unable to acknowledge their addiction, intervention may help them break through their denial and recognize the problem.
People frequently misunderstand intervention, assuming it is a highly confrontational, emotionally painful process for everyone involved. While tears can be shed and tempers may flare during an intervention, it's worth contrasting that potential emotional discomfort with the day-to-day pain level of living with someone who remains in the throes of addiction.
Q: How does intervention work?
A: There is no magic involved in the intervention process. It is simply a time where those who care for the addict join with a professional interventionist to "speak the truth with compassion." Family and friends explain that they are no longer willing to ignore the damage the addict's actions cause, and that they will not tolerate the status quo. The Oxycontin addict is strongly encouraged to enter treatment immediately, as a way to reverse the ongoing negative spiral of addiction.
Q: What will an intervention accomplish?
A: The objective of intervention is to convince the Oxycontin user to take specific steps to get help for their addiction, immediately following the intervention. A professional interventionist will have made preparations before the meeting to provide for immediate entrance to a treatment center.
Often, the addict will have very "reasonable" excuses for putting off this step until a later date. The interventionist will make it clear that delay is not an option. The family and friends of the Oxycontin addict must also present a unified face, explaining to the addict that no other option exists. He or she will not be welcomed in the family home, the homes of concerned friends, or the workplace without first receiving treatment.
On the surface, this may seem very harsh. But addiction is a chronic-and potentially lethal-disease, which has no cure. The objective of intervention is to keep the Oxycontin addict from doing further damage to him or herself, and taking the first important steps to regaining physical, emotional and spiritual equilibrium.