What are Pre-treatment Interventions?

A drug alcohol intervention can be nothing more than briefly addressing an addicted person in the home or workplace and telling them their addiction is out of control. Pre-treatment interventions are more comprehensive than brief interventions and are ideally suited for people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol but do not see that they need professional help. Unlike brief interventions, pre-treatment interventions may take days or even weeks, and may require follow-up by trained professionals after treatment is sought.

What are the Goals of Intervention?

The goals of pre-treatment interventions are the same as any intervention. The interventionist seeks a way to present the addicted individual with objective information in a positive way in order to motivate that person to seek treatment. This type of intervention is typically done under the supervision of a trained treatment specialist, although family members, friends, and other concerned individuals should be present and often play a major role.

What happens before a drug alcohol intervention?

In the planning stages of an intervention, the trained specialist will meet with family members or loved ones to gather facts. Several meetings between family members or concerned individuals can take place before the actual drug alcohol intervention occurs. It is standard during these meetings for the specialist and the concerned loved ones to discuss and make arrangements for treatment for the individual suffering from addiction. Because an addicted person is often very skilled at manipulating or procrastinating, having a prearranged treatment option greatly reduces the opportunity for the addicted person to make promises that they then disregard. The meetings will also help teach the concerned loved ones how to cope with the effects of addiction on their family, and how to avoid supporting ongoing addictive behavior.