Professional Interventions: Pros and Cons

In addiction medicine, an intervention occurs when one or more individuals proactively attempt to disrupt the cycle of addictive behavior. Interventions can be either formal (that is, done with a professional interventionist) or informal (a “DIY” intervention).  The goal of an intervention is to get the addict to accept help, enter a treatment program, and ultimately return to being "clean and sober". 

The answer to the question, “Why hold an intervention at all?” is clear; family and friends feel powerless to help addicts and want to do something to bring about change or, if unsuccessful, they want to have the option of getting closure and moving on with their lives instead of being enmeshed in the legal problems and emotional drama that characterizes addiction.  The question of whether to employ a professional for your intervention is a bit more difficult to answer.

What Are the Disadvantages of Having Professional Help?

• Expense – Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of hiring an interventionist is the cost.  The price for intervention services can vary tremendously; many start at around $2,000 and can go as high as $10,000 or more.  The price depends on the interventionist’s experience, the number of professionals who participate, how much time is spent preparing the family in advance, whether the interventionist would be expected to travel to an out-of-state rehab with the recovering addict, and the urgency of the situation (e.g., is the addict in crisis and needs an intervention today?).  Some families may prefer to put this money toward the cost of rehab.
• Speed of Action – A formal intervention may require a bit of planning in advance to ensure that the schedules of all needed parties align; although many interventionists can act quickly, the family may determine that immediate action is necessary.

What Are the Advantages of Hiring an Interventionist? 

• Experience – Unlike most family members and friends, interventionists have confronted addicts before – many times.  They know how an addict is likely to respond to any given argument, and they can often guide the conversation in such a way that the addict runs out of excuses. In some cases, interventionists are former addicts or friends or relatives of former addicts; this background can be particularly advantageous if an addict tries to argue that the interventionist just “doesn’t understand” what he or she is going through.
• Detachment – Interventionists do not share the family’s emotional attachment to the addict; they do not have the same history with them.  It would be impossible for the addict to use guilt or other forms of emotional manipulation to get the interventionist to back down.  Friends and relatives, on the other hand, may lose their nerve when in direct conflict with the addict.
• Connections – An interventionist is likely to have connections to other addiction professionals; they may be able to recommend rehab facilities, therapists, and other resources based on your budget and the addict’s needs.
• Preparation – Part of the service involves preparing the family to confront not only the addict but also all of their fears, frustrations, and other emotions that they have been harboring throughout the addiction.  Another important role that interventionists play is facilitating discussion among family and friends to make sure everyone is unified against continuing to enable the addict.

Although hiring a professional is not necessary, it is helpful.  There are many ways to pay for help, and the addiction itself is often an enormous financial drain.  Discuss the options with your family and decide what is most realistic for you and your family.