1. Decide Who Will Participate in the Intervention
People who are addicted to something may have hurt various family members and friends along the way. Even if the addict hasn't hurt anyone, you may still be very worried about her safety and well-being. When planning an intervention, make a list of all of the family members and friends your addict is closest to, or who she has hurt in some way. Then, contact all of the people on your list and ask that they participate in an intervention with you. Once you have a confirmed list of participants, schedule a time to sit down with them all and come up with a list of things each participant will tell the addict. Rehearse your speeches if you need to do so. That way, you'll be prepared during the actual event.
2. Contact an Intervention Specialist to Help You
National Intervention Referral is a service that maintains a nationwide team of intervention specialists who can help you organize and conduct your intervention. When you call the service, you'll be put in contact with a specialist in your area who will ask you about the addict's personal history. You'll then go over the basics of an intervention and discuss the roles that each participant will have during the event. The specialist will be able to assist you in conducting the actual intervention and getting the addict into treatment. The specialist will also maintain contact with the addict during and after treatment, in order to help prevent a relapse.
3. Conduct the Actual Intervention
Set up the intervention in a place you know the addict goes to frequently. The best place is a private location where the addict is comfortable. Most of the time this is the addict's own home or the home of a family member or trusted friend. Schedule the event for a time when the addict will be available and sober, as interventions are useless if the addict is drunk or high. Make sure each person who is participating knows what he will be doing during the intervention and is prepared to stick to the consequences they will give to the addict if he does not get treatment.
When the addict arrives, speak to him lovingly, but firmly. Let him know how concerned you all are for his welfare, and cite examples of how his addiction is affecting him and everyone else in the room. Let him know you will help him get treatment and support him in his recovery efforts afterward. Let him know that there will be consequences for him if he refuses treatment, such as an end to contact with his family and friends or no more financial assistance. Then, let him know what treatment options are available for him.
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