Loving an addict isn’t easy. Loving someone in early recovery can be a roller coaster, too. Experts believe 40-60% of people who seek substance abuse treatment relapse at some point in their recovery.[1] While relapse does not mean failure, watching a loved one bounce back and forth between relapse and recovery can be painful and even aggravating for both you and your loved one. You may wonder why he or she can’t just stay sober, and your loved one may feel guilty, ashamed, and embarrassed that they’ve let you down. But what do you do when someone who has relapsed refuses to go back to treatment?
One option is staging an intervention. An intervention can help open your loved one’s eyes to the seriousness of their addiction. It can also demonstrate your and your family’s support behind your loved one’s recovery. Knowing how to stage an intervention for someone who has relapsed can help you effectively get your loved one back on the right path.
Step One: Reflect on Your Goals
It’s easy to get frustrated with someone who continues to make bad decisions or cause harm to themselves and others. However, it’s important to remember that addiction is a disease and that relapse is a part of the recovery journey for many people. Long-term recovery requires professional treatment and continued management of the condition.
Rather than letting yourself get angry or upset with your loved one, remember that he or she is sick and needs your support now more than ever. Remember that your goal is not to shame your loved one. It is to help them realize they are worth a life of sobriety and that you are there to help every step of the way.
Planning an Effective Addiction Intervention For Someone Who Has Relapsed
Whether your loved one is convinced they can get sober without treatment or they simply refuse to give sobriety another shot, an intervention is a great way to change your loved one’s perspective.
You should never go into an intervention blindly. Addiction interventions should be carefully planned and rehearsed.
Speak With a Professional Interventionist
An addiction intervention specialist can help guide you through the intervention process. They can give you tips for staging your intervention, mediate the intervention so everything goes smoothly, and help transport your loved one to a licensed drug rehab facility.
Get Your Group Together, Plan, and Rehearse
Invite close friends and family members who also support your addicted loved one to help you stage the intervention. All group members should write out an impact statement that expresses each person’s concerns. Take turns rehearsing your impact statements and giving each other feedback.
Once everything is ready to go, pick a time and place for the intervention. You should also contact a local rehab facility to make arrangements for admissions so everything is ready to go if the intervention is successful.
Educate Yourselves About Addiction and Recovery
Make sure everyone in the group takes time to educate themselves about the disease of addiction. The more educated you are, the more helpful you can be. Learn about what is involved in treatment and what is needed to stay sober. Be prepared to support your loved one in all stages of his or her recovery.
Tips for Staging an Intervention After a Relapse
When the time comes to stage your intervention, you may feel anxious or scared, but you’re doing the right thing. A few tips to keep in mind include:
- Avoid placing blame on your addicted loved one
- Don’t yell, scream, or name-call
- Remain calm and rely on the intervention specialist to mediate and guide the intervention
- Ask for an immediate decision–your loved one may ask for time to think about going to rehab, but this will only enable them to keep denying their problem. Instead, let your loved one know there may be consequences if he or she doesn’t go to rehab immediately
Sadly, interventions are not always successful. If your loved one erupts in anger, walks out, or refuses to get help, remember that you are not to blame. Continue letting your loved one know that you support him or her and are there to help whenever they are ready to go to rehab.
Find Help for Your Loved One at Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment
We know that relapse is a serious concern among people in recovery and their loved ones. That’s why we implement evidence-based, individualized care that has given our facility a treatment completion rate that is near twice the national average. Our team at Woburn Wellness Addiction Treatment has the knowledge, experience, and passion necessary to guide you and your loved one through intervention, rehabilitation, and aftercare programs that really work.
Whether you need intervention support for a loved one who has relapsed or you need support for yourself, please contact our dedicated admissions coordinators today.
References:
For Confidential Help Call (781) 484-0195
