What is an Intervention?

An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one, or more than one person to get an individual to seek professional help with an addiction or substance abuse. At the Hanley Center, our focus is to give our patients the education and tools to understand alcohol and chemical dependencies, putting into place a successful life plan to overcome their addictions.

Addiction interventions are vital to begin the recovery process for serious afflictions such as alcoholism, substance abuse and chemical dependencies. For over 20 years, the Hanley Center has confronted addiction from every angle, providing a strategic battle plan for each individual patient based on our broad spectrum of addiction treatment expertise.

In a typical situation, a concerned group of relatives, friends and a counselor arrange the intervention in a manner that puts the addict at ease. Prior to the intervention, the family, friends and counselor meet to prepare a strategy that all agree will best reach the addict.

It is normal for the addict to feel defensive or combatitive during an intervention and it is important to communicate in an effective manner that conveys your concern and caring, without anger. It is also typical at this juncture for the addict to disagree with the fact that they need help, and they are often taken by surprise by the intervention.