Common Interventions

Alcohol Intervention

While the fundamental components of an intervention are the same regardless of the addictive behavior involved, certain special considerations need to be taken into account with respect to particular drugs of abuse. For example, withdrawal from alcohol can involve significant medical issues including delirium, seizures, and even death. For this reason, it is important to choose an experienced interventionist who is able to anticipate and prevent potential health problems associated with the intervention. While alcohol is legal, it is actually one of the most dangerous drugs to withdraw from and the amount, frequency, and duration of use must be taken into account when planning an alcoholic’s intervention and recovery. Long term alcohol use leads to irreparable damage of the brain and liver and can shorten an alcoholic’s life by many years. For this reason, early intervention in the progression of alcoholism can be life saving.

Oxycontin Intervention

Oxycontin is a prescription medication that is a delayed release form of the drug oxycodone. Because it is delayed release, an entire day’s worth of oxycodone can be contained in one tablet. Oxycontin addicts will very often crush the tablet before consuming it, releasing all of the oxycodone at once. Oxycodone is an opioid which means it belongs to the same class as heroin and morphine. Like these other opioids, oxycodone results in the development of tolerance and withdrawal meaning that when an addict tries to stop taking the drug they experience a very unpleasant set of symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, physical pain, sweating, insomnia, and depression. Avoidance of withdrawal can keep an addict locked in their addiction for years, even after they have decided they want to stop. Because Oxycontin is expensive when bought on the street (where most addicts eventually end up getting it) an Oxycontin addict will often resort to stealing or other illegal activity to support their habit. Staging an intervention for an Oxycontin addict can save them before they progress farther down the path of addiction and experience worse and worse financial, legal, and social consequences.

Meth Intervention

Methamphetamine (also known as meth, crystal, and crystal meth) causes significant damage to the brains and bodies of those addicted to it. When used in small amounts, methamphetamine results in an increase in energy and focus and many addicts report that at the beginning, their use actually made them more productive. Unfortunately, once addicted, methamphetamine users become non-functional, staying up sometimes for weeks at a time and developing a characteristic psychosis that involves auditory hallucinations and paranoia. Methamphetamine can cause irreparable damage to the brain and this “amphetamine induced psychosis” can sometimes become permanent. Other health effects of methamphetamine use include loss of teeth, strokes, and heart attacks. For this reason, the earlier a methamphetamine intervention can be staged the better.

Cocaine or Crack Intervention

Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs available, particularly when it is injected or smoked as crack or freebase. Cocaine addicts may function normally at the beginning but inevitably lose control. Many cocaine addicts will engage in binges with heavy use for several days followed by periods of severe depression and irritability. As the addiction progresses, the addict frequently becomes so focused on using that work, friends, and family become neglected and are often eventually lost. For this reason, early intervention in cocaine addiction is crucial; it can prevent the addict from losing everything.

Heroin Intervention

Heroin has been a common drug of abuse for many years. Beginning in the 1990s, however, heroin use increased significantly because more potent forms became available which could be smoked or snorted, thus allowing individuals scared by injection drug use to try the drug without the use of a syringe. Unfortunately, many individuals who begin by smoking or snorting heroin progress to intravenous use, thus exposing themselves to numerous health consequences including AIDS, Hepatitis C, and endocarditis (a potentially lethal heart valve infection). Heroin has turned many promising young individuals into shells of people living only for their next shot. Because heroin addiction progresses very rapidly and can have such dire consequences, staging an intervention as soon as a problem becomes evident is crucial.

Prescription Pill Intervention

Addiction to prescription drugs has increased dramatically over the past several years due in large part to increased use by teenagers who typically obtain the pills from the medicine cabinets of their parents or other relatives. There is a perception among many that prescription pills are safer than street drugs. While this may be true with respect to impurities, many prescription drugs are as or more addictive than many street drugs. For example prescription opioids like Codeine, Vicodin or Oxycontin (see above) or amphetamines like Adderall, Dexedrine, or Ritalin can result in severe addictions with devastating health and social consequences. In many cases, an individual may initially be prescribed an addictive prescription medication for legitimate medical reasons by their doctor but end up developing an addiction to it. In these unfortunate circumstances, the addict often ends up being caught between a real need for the medication and an addiction to it that is ruining there lives. Furthermore, many prescription pill addicts use the fact that they are prescribed the medication by a doctor to justify their addiction and remain in denial about the consequences it is having. Fortunately, with the right treatment and a properly trained doctor, there is a way out of such situations. If the addict is unwilling to accept help an intervention is the necessary first step.

Executive Intervention

Many times the same characteristics that lead someone to become successful can fuel an intense addiction. Depending on the amount of resources available to an individual, the social and financial consequences of an addiction can be delayed or diminished for many years. Often, an addict who has yet to lose their financial or social success will use that fact to remain in denial about the reality of their addiction. These individuals frequently require a highly specialized treatment approach that focuses on disengaging their denial while maintaining the high degree of functionality they have had. We specialize in orchestrating such interventions where confidentiality, discretion, and personally tailored treatment are essential.