Does your family need an intervention?

When your teenager is of using alcohol or drugs, you need not go through it alone. Because addiction-fueled dysfunctional isolates you, you may not recognize your available resources:

• Other family members and close friends
• School officials (teachers, coaches, counselors)
• Family physician
• Substance abuse professionals

Teen substance abuse should ALWAYS be addressed by trained and experienced professionals. The adolescent brain develops until the mid-20s. This means that teenagers are particularly vulnerable to the long-term physical and mental harm caused by drugs and alcohol.

Often, the first professionally-directed step in helping your child involves an intervention.

What Is an Intervention?

An intervention is a well-planned gathering of the addicted person and their concerned friends and family members. It is a “loving confrontation”.

The goal of an intervention is to persuade (or even compel) your teenager to willingly get the help they need. And, although this may sound simple enough, staging an effective intervention requires timing, planning, and organization.

When Is the “Right Time” for an Intervention?

It is not unusual for parents to minimize their child’s substance use as “experimentation”, especially if they haven’t yet experienced major consequences. But delaying treatment only puts your child at greater risk of serious repercussions – even overdose and death.

The best time to start recovery is ALWAYS right now.

Reason #1 – A Professional Intervention Isn’t Sidetracked by Emotion

Perhaps the most important perks of an intervention professional are they are:

• Trained
• Experienced
• Neutral

Without professional guidance, long-held resentments and strong emotions interfere with the goal of the intervention – to get your teenager to accept treatment.

It is possible to be too close to the problem. Perhaps you blame yourself – or your spouse – for your teenager’s addiction. Alternately, some family members become hostile or defensive when discussing uncomfortable subjects. When this is the case, it’s easy to lose focus.

A professional interventionist helps families in crisis come together in unison as they deal with the REAL issue – the need for immediate professional substance abuse treatment.

Reason #2 – A Professional Intervention Ends Enabling

Sometimes, you aid your teenager’s continued substance abuse, despite your best intentions.

• Because you don’t want them to get in trouble, you protect them from the consequences of their actions.
• Because you think it’s safer, you give them permission to drink or use in your home. Or, you supply their alcohol and drugs.
• Because you want to trust you teenager, you don’t “invade their privacy” by checking up on them.
• Because you are tired of arguing, you hold your tongue to keep the peace.

But each of these is potentially a form of enabling. If your child is not held accountable for their actions, then they never have a reason to change. Your family dynamic becomes more dysfunctional as your teenager’s disease of addiction progresses.

A professional interventionist helps you step back and establish the boundaries that you need to protect your teen, yourself, and the rest of your family.

Reason #3 – A Professional Intervention Avoids Manipulation

Addiction frequently turns those with substance abuse issues into skilled manipulators. Teenagers lost to active addiction do or say almost anything to maintain their habit. And, when confronted about their alcohol or drug use and the impact it is having on their life, they will:

• DENY they have a problem, even when it is blatantly obvious.
• DECEIVE everyone around them by telling any lie, however unbelievable.
• DEFLECT any questions with vague or misleading questions.
• DIVERT your attention from their substance use by pointing the finger elsewhere.

Every parent wants to believe that their child couldn’t possibly be mixed up with something so dangerous as drug use or underage drinking. And because of this mistaken belief, too many parents desperately accept whatever they are told, clinging to a false sense of security.

Professional interventionists are trained to move past this manipulation. Because they can see through each smokescreen argument, the interventionist keeps the discussion moving forward positively. Just as importantly, they keep the focus on solutions, not excuses.

Reason #4 – A Professional Intervention Leads to Appropriate Treatment

Part of the job of a professional interventionist is to connect you with the resources you need. And that means answering your questions and easing your fears about the recovery process.

Teenagers and families impacted by substance abuse dread the thought of rehab because of inaccurate preconceptions about what that truly means.  During the intervention, your professional helps your family – and your teenager – better understand the benefits of drug/alcohol rehab. Best of all, they put you in touch with specific programs that are right for your situation and for the unique needs of your teenager.

Teensavers Treatment Centers in California transforms the lives of teens struggling with addictive or emotional behaviors. Located conveniently in Orange County, Teensavers offers a comprehensive program that helps your teen achieve a healthier and more balanced life.

Contact Teensavers TODAY to have your questions answered about an intervention or any other part of the recovery process.

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