Intervention For Pregnant Women

Drug and alcohol addicts will benefit greatly from an intervention, but there is a minority that we don’t hear much about. Pregnant women are judged harshly for their addiction and there is very little we hear about help that is available for them. It is easy to pass judgment on a pregnant mother and condemn her for her actions. In reality, a misinformed public is doing more harm than good. Drug addiction makes a person physically and dependant on a substance to the point where an addict may not be able to make the best decisions. Carrying a child may not be enough incentive to stop using if an addict has been using long before pregnancy.

Alcoholism Intervention Help Expecting Mothers

Additionally, pregnant alcoholics cannot simply stop drinking once they are expecting. The pressure and anxiety can drive them to continue to drink. A carefully planned alcoholism intervention is necessary as it will give women an overview of how drinking is putting their child at risk for mental and physical defects. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a likely risk, as are other abnormalities that a child will have to live with for the rest of their lives. Although pregnancy may seem like a great motivator to stop using drugs and alcohol, women may need an extra hand when it comes to overcoming their alcoholism.

Expecting Addicts and Drug Intervention

People will have varying assumptions about mothers depending on the different type of drug that they are abusing. For example, methamphetamines may be considered a “dirty” drug as it can be made with household medicines and cleaners. The fact of the matter is that drug intervention can benefit addicts no matter what their substance of choice is. Being quick to judge an individual for their type of drug addiction is damaging as it may influence the addict to stray away from seeking for help. Being more understanding and supportive of the recovery process can save a life or two.

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.