Drug Intervention
Getting a loved one help for their addiction via a drug intervention can be one of the most challenging experiences a friend or family member may endure. However, this experience can also be one of the most rewarding. After all, it is often a life-and-death situation. Your loved one may need your support, encouragement, and care to commit to sobriety for good.
The Prevalence of Drug Addiction in the U.S.
Many people don’t realize just how prevalent addiction is in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”
Many people also struggle with co-occurring disorders of mental illness and addiction. This can make diagnosing an individual with a specific addiction difficult, as one issue can overshadow the other. Moreover, this is why better understanding the signs and symptoms of addiction can be so important.
The Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction
Of course, the signs and symptoms of addiction are going to vary based on subjective factors, such as the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of substance use. Genetic factors can also affect the symptoms of drug addiction that an individual may exhibit. However, there are some signs and symptoms that are more universal. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Isolating away from loved ones
- Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
- Experiencing otherwise unexplained physical ailments such as gastrointestinal problems
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Not being able to stop drinking or using once started
- Experiencing alcohol or substance-related consequences at school or work
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or helplessness (depression)
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Committing harm to others or self-harm
- Having suicidal ideations
As one can see, these symptoms can be significant and serious, so if any, many, or all of these are present, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects, and long-term consequences. Meanwhile, this is also the primary purpose of a drug intervention.
Better Understanding a Drug Intervention
A drug intervention starts with close friends and family and hopefully ends with long-term recovery. The key is to take all of the proper steps and to seek professional help in the process.
Many people get nervous about staging a drug intervention because they are fearful that the individual is going to hold the process against them. However, it is most important to remember that this can be a life-saving proposition, so it should be worth a little discomfort. Also, this discomfort can be significantly lessened with the aid of a professional interventionist.
Implementing a Drug Intervention
Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse is in the U.S. (and abroad). According to Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Also, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.” A drug intervention is one of the best ways to stop these relapses from happening.
A professional interventionist is going to be able to help friends and family in the process of setting boundaries and expressing what their loved one’s addiction is doing to them. After all, addiction is a chronic “family disease” that affects everyone it comes in contact with. A professional interventionist will also be able to help loved ones set the proper boundaries that will protect themselves and potentially further help move the recovery process forward.
Setting these boundaries can be difficult at first. The important thing to remember is that these boundaries may be the “push” that a loved one needs to seek help. These boundaries may include not allowing an individual to live in a home if they continue to drink and/or use, cutting them off financially, and not allowing them to see certain family members if they refuse to get help. In the end, it will also be for their well-being and the well-being of everyone involved.
Healing After a Drug Intervention With The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we believe in helping loved ones and their families heal at the cellular level. This is the Phoenix difference – “Empowering individuals and families suffering from addiction and mental health disorders, to celebrate life through lasting solutions.”
Recovery is out there, just beyond the horizon. The key is to go out there and get it.
Having an alcohol and/or drug intervention can be life-saving. However, drug interventions are more than just confronting a loved one; they have a process. This is why reaching out to a professional interventionist is highly recommended for obtaining the most successful outcomes. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders and could benefit from a drug intervention, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about how to have a successful drug intervention, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
