What Is an Intervention?

Do you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or smoking? An intervention program could help your loved one escape the grips of denial, rationalization, and projection.

An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by family and friends to get a family member, friend, or loved one to seek help for an addiction or other similar problems. When one has tried everything possible to inspire or convince their loved one that they need help, but they will not admit into a program, an addiction intervention program is a successful tool in helping you help your loved one escape from the grips of denial, rationalization and projection.

By approaching them from a place of love and compassion, with help facilitated by a addiction interventionist, you will be helping them understand the problem that they have and that a treatment program is needed. Using a professional interventionist will not only ensure that you have taken the appropriate approach, but will also give you peace of mind knowing that you have expressed your love and concern in a professional, impacting, and very effective manner.

Addiction Intervention Process

An intervention is a very strategic process that must be facilitated and properly executed by an addiction intervention specialist to ensure desired results. In order to effectively perform a substance intervention, an intervention team will be established and then thoroughly prepared with the information required for attaining success. All parties involved will understand the purpose, process and techniques of the intervention.


  • Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Deadly DuoAlcohol and substance abuse is a dangerous combination. You need professional help in order to treat both addictions.
  • User, Abuser, and Dependent: What's the Difference?User, abuser, and dependent. You've heard these words before in the context of alcohol addiction, drug addiction, or gambling addiction. What are their differences?
  • Addiction DefinitionAddiction is also classified as a progressive disease. This means that the habit will only intensify as time goes on if nothing or nobody intervenes with the addiction.
  • Intervention FAQsHere are some of the most common questions that families often ask about an intervention, whether for drug, alcohol, or substance addiction.

563 thoughts on “What Is an Intervention?”

  1. This Angela Suthard I left comment about my Son I told you he had a sister he also has an older half brother who was addict but has been clean for years and is also concerned about his brother.

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  2. I am coming to you as a mother needing help for my son who is 30 and will be 31 in February I am desperate my son Eric has been doing drugs and alcohol since he was very young and to be honest probably longer then I know he only held is drivers license for a very short time he has been in and out of jail he has had numerous accidents that he probably should of never walked away from. I left his dad because of his drug addiction his father chose drugs over his family I gave him that choice. Eric has a sister who is also very concerned about her brother. My son found his dad dead in his house one morning because of a drug overdose drugs that his dad’s brother gave him. Eric’s dad made Eric worse when I left he would party and do drugs with his son I tried to control it but Eric was old enough where the judge let him say what he wanted as far as to what he wanted. Eric’s dad Kevin signed his rights over for my daughter she was only 9 Eric was 12 and I am not blaming his dad for his addiction but he didn’t help I came from an alcoholic family one where abuse was also a big part of my life I will admit I have drank and I have tried pot and cocaine back in my younger years but I didn’t see the enjoyment in it I guess because of everything I seen as a child held be back. But there is alot you will need to know I am just praying you can help me my son he got married last year to a girl I thought would be good for him but boy was we fooled she is a heroin addict and that just made things worse like adding fuel to the fire and now they both go to a methadone clinic and say they doing better but they are still using and I go to bed every night sick to my stomach waiting to hear the phone ring that something has happened and I can’t do this anymore I need to get him help I am at a loss!! Please help!

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  3. My family and I need help my cousin Noah has gone down the wrong path he is only 23 years old and it’s already using meth heroin Fentanyl anything he can get his hands on he’s living in the streets he’s overdosed four times My family and I worry every day that we’re going to get that phone call and he’s going to be dead we want to get him help as soon as possible before it’s too late please help

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  4. Just a mom of an addicted adult. Refuses any help. Had to sell home from under him. Lost money, would be totally worth it to get him clean. I pray daily for help.

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  5. Me and my boyfriend need help so bad. We fight with each other of wantin sum kind of drug its meth or narcotics and watever we can get. I’m at my wits end of us getting help in my heart this is a matter of death or life please help I don’t know wat to do!!

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  6. My family across the board has been addicted in one form or another..I .myself am 17yrs clean..my brother is still sick & suffering and has tried to stop but cant stay stop. He has had tragedy in his life & when our Mom passed in 2017, it has gotten worst. I recently lost my son (natural causes) & instead of consoling me..he wanted ONE MORE..My brother doesnt see the damage the disease of addiction had caused. Please he needs help & i dont know how to help anymore.

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  7. I’m here asking for help for MYSELF….! I JUST CAN’T SEEN TO FIND A PROGRAM IN MY STATE THAT LAST MORE THEN 3 DAYS THAT WON’T HELP ME. I NEED MORE TIME THEN THAT PLZ IM IN DIER NEED OF GETTING SOBER

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  8. My boyfriend of 5yrs. Drinks every single day he calls me horrible names, he harass people everywhere he goes im scared someone is gonna seriously hurt him or worse he is a real monster when he drinking.

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  9. I have been doing drugs since i was 12 years old i was molested by my babysitter’s brother in law at 5 i was raped at age 12 by a stranger , i started using marijuana at that age , it has been a spiraling out of control movie since then , now i shoot up meth now , my 13 year old smokes weed now i have a 13 yr old and a 3 yr old my 3 yr old isnt with me he i signed my rights over to the paternal grandparents , my 3 yr olds dad is a complete physco path who has ruined so much for me . ive caught a 1st degree aggrvated robbery charge im on 4 rys probation for there were 3 men in my life who have single hand tried to end me by trying to kill me or get me locked up . i need some intense help the father of my youngest son has tried to get me killed i was filed missing in the state of texas , in the streets im known as a G certified . but to my family im a junkie full of life i want to be saved so bad this drug has took everything from me my freedom my kids i need help before i die .

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