Confronting an Alcoholic Can Sometimes Backfire

By BuddyT

Sometimes when the alcoholic's problems reach the crisis level, the only choice left to his family is professional intervention. But, there are risks that should be carefully considered.

What is intervention? Basically it comes down to confronting the alcoholic with how his drinking has effected everyone around him. The alcoholic's family, friends, and employers tell the alcoholic in their own words how his (or her) drinking has been a problem in their lives.

But, it is not as simple as that.

The Purpose of an Intervention

Interventions should be carefully planned and developed by professional substance abuse counselors who are experienced in such procedures. The only purpose of an intervention is to get the alcoholic to go into a treatment program.

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Most alcohol and drug treatment centers have counselors who are trained to help families prepare for the confrontation, which always takes place in a "controlled" environment, specifically selected to put the alcoholic in a position in which he is most likely to listen. Many times these interventions take place at the workplace, with the full cooperation of the employer.

Sometimes, the intervention comes as a total surprise to the alcoholic, but recently new techniques have been developed in which the members of the intervention team tell the alcoholic that they are talking with a counselor about his drinking problem several days prior to the actual intervention.

Does It Work?

With the newer method, the alcoholic realizes that the most important people in his life are meeting about his problem, and when he is finally invited to the discussion, he does not feel as "ambushed" as with the earlier intervention techniques.

If the alcoholic does decide to enter the treatment center, he is more apt to be less angry than with the former procedure of surprising him with the confrontation. He feels less manipulated and usually enters the program with the attitude of trying to get better from the start.

With the old method, many times the alcoholic agreed to the treatment, but started the recovery process with a negative attitude.

Some Risks Involved

Professional intervention is not an option for every family and every situation. The decision to choose the intervention path is one that should be made carefully and with the advice of an experienced counselor. There are some potential risks.

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As one healthcare professional put it: "There are a fair number of substance abuse treatment centers who have stopped doing these interventions because when the intervention fails, as it sometimes inevitably does, the family can be further torn apart by all the bad feelings about the intervention. Not a small point for a family already on the edge of destruction from having an actively alcoholic member."

"The intervention may fail if the alcoholic doesn't make some important transitions during and after formal treatment, but the alcoholic identified patient may very well storm out of the intervention session and the family will have to pick up the pieces of a failed intervention on top of the rest of their problems."

A Point of Resentment?

There are others who believe no intervention can be successful in the long run, because of their experience that most alcoholics can't be helped until they are ready to reach out for help on their own. Although the confrontation itself may in fact put the alcoholic in the frame of mind to be "ready" to get help, it can also be a point of resentment in the future.

There is no known "cure" for alcoholism. It can be treated, but never "cured." Intevention will work only if the alcoholic becomes committed to never taking another drink.

If the alcoholic's problems have progressed so that he has become a danger to himself or others, or if his alcoholism has reached the point that he is no longer capable of looking out for himself, intervention can be a life-saving choice. But it is not a permanent cure. Only the alcoholic himself can turn a 28-day treatment program into a life-long program of recovery.

Confrontation Can Backfire

Other professionals have stopped doing these interventions as they can be so very painful to families and to individuals who are already under the enormous strain of being involved with the practicing alcohol abuser or addict.

If the intervention goes well and the target individual seeks treatment, it is a great beginning; if the target individual angrily stomps out of the intervention and/or otherwise refuses cooperation and refuses to seek treatment, all is likely not so fine.

The family and the other interveners then are left sitting there wondering what to do next, what to do with themselves, what to do in regard to any options/alternatives they have told the target person about (e.g., threats of divorce, taking the children away, etc.), and so on.

Ask The Right Questions

Of course it is as true in interventions as in any other area of life that there are no guarantees, no certainties, no sure deals, no "something for nothing."

Anyone considering an intervention should give very serious thought to the very real option that treatment will be refused and/or that treatment will be briefly accepted but that the alcohol abusing individual will return to abusing.

What happens then? Have all involved made progress or lost ground? In what ways are things better for any one person, and in what ways are they worse?

What happens next? The answers to these questions may help families decide whether they see an intervention as a desirable or an undesirable thing to do.

These questions do need to be carefully addressed ahead of time, and it is perfectly reasonable to ask any professional intervener to help address these questions before making a decision to go forward.

Ask for Qualifications

It is also a good idea to ask any prospective intervener what his/her background, training, and experience with this type of treatment approach is, and what their level of licensing and/or certification is. Are they self-employed or are they a part of a larger hospital or treatment center which in turn must meet meet various professional and governmental requirements.

At a minimum, find out if your potential intervening professional is licensed and/or certified by the appropriate source, and you additonally might ask local people whom you trust (your clergyman, your doctor) if they know anyone to recommend.

Planning and carrying out a structured, confrontational style intervention is serious business, and it is a very complex and difficult procedure. Consider the risks as well as the potential advantages before you act.

Learn more about Support for Families.