Many people who have a loved one with an alcohol or drug addiction problem wonder if they should stage an intervention.  This is a difficult decision they may try to avoid, hoping that their loved one will realize that a problem exists and take care of it on their own.  The fact is, denial is a strong component of addiction and chances are the addict will not admit that there is a problem.  Waiting too long to contact an interventionist and plan an intervention can have disastrous results for both the addict and his or her family.  This is why the best time to contact an interventionist is when alcohol or drug abuse has become a recognizable problem.

The intervention process has been used successfully for drug and alcohol rehabilitation for several decades, but it should not be attempted without professional help.  A professional interventionist should be consulted early in the process.  The interventionist will determine if the loved one is a good candidate for intervention.  If an intervention is in order, the interventionist will help with all the details of the intervention meeting, including who should be present, where it should be held, and what course of treatment will be suggested to the subject of the intervention.

During the intervention, the interventionist will guide the discussion and provide a calming influence when emotions run high.  The interventionist will help family members and friends explain how they have been impacted by their loved one’s addiction.  At the same time, the interventionist will do everything possible to stop the addict from feeling attacked.  The emphasis will be on the problems caused by the addiction.  Most professional interventionists have experienced a variety of interventions and are prepared to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible.  In many cases, the interventionist will be the person who breaks through the addict’s wall of denial and gets him or her to agree to begin a treatment program.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease that can worsen over time.  Left untreated, an alcohol abuse problem can become life-threatening.  Physical symptoms that begin with hangovers and blackouts progress to a daily craving for alcohol and physical withdrawal when attempting to abstain from drinking.  Alcoholism wreaks havoc on the life of the drinker as well as on the lives of family and friends.  Unemployment, divorce, arrest and incarceration are some the problems faced by people who are addicted to alcohol.  In the final stages of the disease, alcoholics may experience homelessness, liver disease and an early death.  According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 100,000 people in the U.S. die each year due to alcohol-related causes.

Alcohol rehab programs help people overcome their psychological and physical dependence on alcohol.  The treatment process begins with detoxification, which involves placing the individual in an alcohol-free environment and treating the symptoms of physical withdrawal.  Following detox, which may take from several days to two weeks, counseling and group therapy sessions will begin.  The most effective alcohol programs treat the whole person rather than focusing exclusively on alcohol addiction.  Co-occurring disorders, which may include depression, anxiety and social isolation, should be addressed as part of the alcohol rehab program.  Unless an individual confronts and understands the underlying causes of his or her alcohol dependence, the cycle of addiction will continue.

There are two basic categories of alcohol rehab programs: outpatient and residential.  In outpatient programs, individuals participate in treatment during the day but return home at night.  People who are attempting to juggle work, school or family with rehabilitation often choose this type of alcohol rehab.  It is only recommend for people with less serious cases of addiction.  Residential rehab programs require the individual to move into a treatment facility and join a community of therapists and other recovering alcoholics.  Residential programs allow individuals to completely focus on recovery and the adoption of healthy behaviors.  Since round-the-clock supervision and treatment are provided, this is a better option for people with serious, life-threatening alcohol addiction

When alcohol rehab treatment has been completed, there should be follow-on aftercare that will help the recovering alcoholic deal with challenges encountered in the outside world.  These challenges include seeing friends who are associated with drinking, dealing with the stresses of day-to-day living and avoiding the type of boredom that can lead to drinking.  Aftercare support and counseling is often a key component in avoiding relapse for individuals who have completed alcohol rehab programs.

Most people try not to pry too deeply into their co-workers’ personal lives. While we may get along quite well with our co-workers, many of us feel that it is not our place to interfere in a co-worker’s personal matters. But when someone’s drug addiction starts to affect the work environment, it is time to take action. Although there are many options, holding a drug intervention is often the best choice.

If you are reluctant to hold a drug intervention for a co-worker, consider this: is it really a good idea to pretend drug addiction does not exist just because you are at work? Of course not. In fact, if you are open about this issue involving your co-worker, you may encourage others in your workplace to seek help for their own addictions. As long as we pretend these issues aren’t there, we enable people to continue using.

Holding a workplace drug intervention can be disruptive, but keep in mind that there is more to life than just business. If your co-worker is in serious danger, then you can risk a little workplace tension or a temporary decrease in productivity. Plus, your addicted co-worker is probably hindering productivity as it is, so you might as well do something about it now.

How exactly you go about your workplace drug intervention depends on a few factors. If there are other people in the company who are personally closer to the addict, you might want to talk to them about it before you do anything. Also, find out if there are any company policies governing these matters. For example, maybe the company will cover some of the treatment costs. It can’t hurt to ask.

Before you go through with the drug intervention, you might want to get in touch with a professional interventionist. They can help you with all the practical planning. For example, you will have to decide where and when to hold the drug intervention, whom to invite, and whether to involve the family. These issues can get a little thorny, so seek advice from professional with extensive experience performing interventions.

As with many illicit drugs, methamphetamine use may start out as an occasional recreational activity, but once it takes hold of you, the effects can be profoundly damaging and even life-threatening. What’s more, the descent into crystal meth abuse is not always a clear path. Some people become hooked without even realizing that it is happening, and soon the addiction becomes nearly impossible to overcome without help.

Short-term crystal meth effects

The exhilarating high that crystal meth users get is just the beginning of the drug’s effects. Once the brief period of euphoria fades, users commonly experience depression, anxiety, hostility, and paranoia that last many times longer than the initial high. The immediate physical effects—such as convulsions, sweating, tremors, and difficulty breathing—can last for hours and become frightening. All in all, just one instance of crystal meth abuse can make the user dysfunctional for days.

That’s not to mention the fact that crystal meth abuse often causes people to act out in dangerous or self-destructive ways. People on crystal meth often get hallucinations and delusions, and these can become incredibly dangerous when combined with the additional side effects of anxiety and hostility. That’s why so many crystal meth users act violently; even if youare not a particularly hostile person in your normal life, crystal meth can cause you to act out in unexpected and disturbing ways.

Long-term effects

We tend to refer to the cumulative effects of continual crystal meth abuse as “long-term,” but in reality they can begin after just a short time. After a period of regular crystal meth abuse, many users report insomnia, persistent fatigue, poor appetite, and lingering emotional disturbances. Addiction can develop after just a week or two of regular use, and the withdrawal effects can be mentally and physically excruciating.

Over time, the long-term effects of crystal meth abuse become worse and worse. The cardiovascular effects are the most life-threatening to the addict. They include irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and blood-vessel irregularities that can contribute to stroke. Some of these effects are irreversible, and many serious crystal meth users continue to suffer cardiovascular problems even years after quitting. The effects can be almost equally damaging for the digestive and respiratory systems, as well.

In addition to the life-threatening effects of crystal meth abuse, there are the well-documented psychological and physical effects. Psychologically, long-term users can develop schizophrenia, clinical depression, and mood disorders. Some of these are not reversed through quitting and must be treated separately. Meanwhile, methamphetamine users tend to develop a distinct appearance characterized by rotting teeth, severe skin conditions such as acne, and skinniness bordering on anorexia.

If you use crystal meth and are beginning to suffer from these short-term or long-term effects, it is time to seek help before your addiction gets worse. Contact your doctor or a local treatment center to learn about your options.

As you enter the early stages of crystal meth recovery, you will probably hear from doctors, treatment professionals, and other recovering addicts who say you should join a support group. Many people are reluctant to join these groups for any number of perfectly understandable reasons, but this hesitation is usually based on misconceptions about what happens in support groups. Television and movies have often portrayed these groups in an unflattering light, but in reality support groups are overwhelmingly positive organizations that can help a great deal.

Types of support groups

You’ve probably heard of Crystal Meth Anonymous, a support group inspired by the principles pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous with its 12 steps of recovery. Over a half century after its creation, the 12-step process is still one of the most effective crystal meth recovery programs. Although it has received some criticism over the years, the 12-step philosophy continues to evolve with the times, and has helped thousands, perhaps millions, of people.

However, if you are uncomfortable with any aspect of the 12-step recovery process, there are alternatives. Most major metropolitan areas have multiple crystal meth recovery support groups, and you should be able to find one with a record of helping people through recovery without relying on the 12-step model.

Your level of involvement

The degree to which you benefit from your crystal meth recovery support group is highly dependent on your level of participation. If you are a naturally quiet person or you are just not ready to talk about your addiction, this doesn’t rule out your participation. Everything that takes place in support group meetings is completely voluntary. You will be encouraged to speak, but you never have to. Even if you go twice a week for a year and never speak up, no one will say that you can’t be there.

Of course, if you do participate, it will be to your benefit. Even people who initially doubt support groups are often surprised by how helpful it can be to get your feelings off your chest in such a supportive and understanding community. Plus, it can be extremely helpful to listen to what others have to say about their own crystal meth recovery experiences. It lets you know that others have been where you have been and that there is a path forward.

Some recovering addicts bid farewell to their support groups after a few months of successful drug-free living, but this is a matter of personal choice. Others find that they need their support groups in order to stay on track, and they may continue attending for years. In any case, joining a support group will provide you with a community that you can turn to in your times of need, whether it’s in the early stages of your recovery or at some time in the distant future. All in all, it can’t hurt to at least give it a try.

Crystal meth rehab can be a long and sometimes difficult process, and at times your commitment to getting clean may be challenged. This is perfectly normal. Everyone in recovery—for methamphetamine as well as for other drugs and alcohol—has moments of doubt, and there will probably be times when you are not sure you can make it. But if you listen to your doctors and treatment professionals, attend a support group, and remember how important it is to become free of drugs, you will be fine. To make sure everything goes smoothly, here are five things that should be avoided during recovery and afterwards:

1. Boredom

Granted, it may be a little difficult to completely fend off boredom during the early stages of recovery, especially if you are in inpatient crystal meth rehab. But in general, it is best to occupy yourself as much as possible. Your recovery-related activities will take up a lot of time on your schedule, but it’s also good to pick up some hobbies, reconnect with old (drug-free) friends, and find some new things that you enjoy.

2. Drinking

Some recovered methamphetamine addicts are not prone to alcoholism and can handle an occasional drink, but if you are generally prone to addiction, it is best to avoid alcohol for now. Don’t replace your old addiction with a new one. Wait until after you have undergone treatment and are fully confident in your new way of living.

3. One-time relapses

For a recovering meth addict, “once more for old time’s sake,” is one of the most dangerous phrases in the English language. No matter how certain you are that you can handle it, the “once more” thing rarely works out that way. This is how relapses start. Unless you’re eager to start crystal meth rehab all over from scratch, don’t fall into this trap.

4. Shame

Many people undergoing crystal meth rehab end up feeling a strong sense of shame over their past activities. This is normal, but there is no reason to let it bring you down. You were controlled by your addiction, and your addiction is not who you are. Instead of wallowing in shame, move forward. Revel in the pride you feel in taking this positive step for yourself.

5. Stress

Once you ease back into your professional life, avoiding stress may be easier said than done. But as much as possible, try to avoid the stressors that have driven you over the edge in the past, and find ways to relax during those difficult moments. Your crystal meth rehab program will likely supply you with a few useful tools for this.

If you know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you may worry that it is not your place to confront them about their problem. Most of us assume that drug and alcohol interventions are the responsibility of the family, and that friends should not get involved. But as any professional interventionist will tell you, it does not matter how close you are to an addicted person. Help can come from unexpected places. In fact, some addicts have such poisoned family relationships that no family intervention could possibly work. In such cases, it is up to others step in and help ensure that the addict gets treatment.

When to raise the issue

If your instinct is to avoid confronting your friend about his or her addiction, then you might want to wait until a proper time. Confronting the person in a routine social situation might not be the best idea, as this may just put them on the defensive. Instead, wait until they reach a particularly low moment, and then broach the subject with care. The day after a drinking or drug binge is often a good time, especially if the person’s behavior negatively affected you or others in your social circle.

It may happen that no clear opportunities present themselves. In this case, you might want to get in touch with a professional interventionist and talk to them about how best to approach this situation. They may recommend performing an intervention with a few other friends and the interventionist, or they may have some good tips for how to approach your friend on your own.

How to bring it up

There are a few ways to bring up the issue. The most important thing is to do it at a time when the person is not drunk or high. Wait until you are in a calm situation where you have time to talk together for more than a few seconds, and then be careful not to bring it up in a confrontational manner. It may help to work your way toward the addiction issue by first asking the addict how she’s doing, how work is going, and so on. Be careful not to be too nosy, and try not to ask leading questions that make your intentions too obvious.

If talking through the situation in person doesn’t feel right, consider writing a letter or an email. It may seem a little strange, but such a gesture could be exactly what your friend needs to begin to recognize that he or she has a problem. If that fails, get together with a few other people who care about the addict and talk about contacting an interventionist.

Choosing to go to inpatient drug rehabilitation is a major step that few addicts take lightly. Just to get through the door, patients first need to accept that they have a problem. Then there are usually numerous steps involved in getting admitted and starting detox and treatment. One needs to be very serious and committed in order to get to this point, and even then starting rehab can be difficult. To make matters worse, many people have misconceptions about what rehab involves, and these distorted views about the process can make them doubly reluctant to get started.

If you have an addicted loved one or friend who is holding back from entering much-needed rehab, here are five useful points you can tell them.

1. Inpatient drug rehabilitation is not one-size-fits-all. Many reluctant addicts have trouble entering rehab because they don’t think of themselves as the kind of person who does that sort of thing. What’s more, they may hold the mistaken view that rehab is the same for everyone. But the fact is that there is no single approach to rehab, and most quality facilities tailor their programs to the individual needs of each patient. No one is turned away; everyone is welcome.
2. Inpatient drug rehabilitation doesn’t have to be expensive. No doubt there are some expensive luxury drug rehab programs out there, but for most people, getting clean doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Plus, many insurance providers cover at least some aspects of treatment.
3. Addicts do not have to hit rock bottom before seeking recovery. Some addicts go years and years without ever hitting rock bottom, and addiction can destroy one’s life without ever becoming outwardly severe. An addiction is an addiction, and there’s no wrong time to start undergoing treatment.
4. Treatment facilities are not dismal places. Don’t believe everything you see in the movies. Most modern inpatient drug rehabilitation facilities are warm and welcoming places with positive environments. Sure, rehab often involves facing bad feelings during the early stages, but the whole point of seeking treatment is to make this difficult time as easy and pain-free as possible. Modern treatment programs are quite good at this.
5. Failing to recover once does not mean you will fail again. If your addicted friend or loved one has negative associations with inpatient drug rehabilitation due to a failed attempt to quit in the past, remind them that one failure does not guarantee future failure. In fact, many addicts have to go through the process multiple times before it sticks. This is a common phenomenon. Think of it as a practice-makes-perfect sort of thing.

There have been few widespread studies into the success rates of drug rehab programs, but this is not due to any lack of information. The truth is that there are many types of drug rehab programs with varying success rates, and in many cases, the success or failure of a given program depends on the addict’s level of seriousness and commitment. Even the best inpatient drug rehab program in the world is no match for a drug user who hasn’t accepted that they have a problem or is just not ready to face up to it, so any stats would be misleading.

With that said, it is believed that drug rehab programs in general have a success rate between 50 and 75%. The dogma in the recovery community is that most people relapse at least once, and a certain percentage of recovered addicts get so off-track that they eventually have to go through rehab all over again. But if the patient is genuinely committed to quitting, this won’t be a problem.

Here are a few things you can do to increase the chances that your inpatient drug rehab program will have success:

• Take it seriously. Some aspects of your inpatient drug rehab may seem unnecessary. But if you’ve chosen a good facility, you can have faith in your doctors and care professionals. They’ve dealt with many people in your condition, and they know what works and what doesn’t. Even if it feels somewhat unproductive at times, take it seriously.
• Remember the bad side of drugs. As you get further away from your habit, you may feel tempted to sanitize your past. Many people tend to forget about the overwhelmingly negative parts of drug use and instead focus on the few things that were nice about it. This is a huge mistake. In order to move forward, you have to accept that the addicted way of life is not sustainable. If it helps, write down all the bad things about your drug use, and keep your list handy so you do not forget. This is a good thing to do when killing time in inpatient drug rehab.
• Attend support group meetings. If you find yourself thinking that you are not the type of person who would benefit from support group meetings, don’t let this deter you. The fact is that there is no specific type of person that support groups are designed for, and you are not the first person to feel a little awkward and out of place in the first few meetings. You don’t have to be religious, you don’t have to be a big talker, and you don’t even have to be a particularly friendly person. Just keep going to your meetings, and you will find that they do help.
• No relapsing, no exceptions. If you ask recovering addicts who have had relapses, most will tell you that the relapse started as a supposedly one-time incident that got out of hand. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can get high once or twice “for old time’s sake” and still come out clean. It rarely works out that way.
• Address other issues. If you have any mental health issues that have contributed to your addiction, now is the time to see a doctor and get to the bottom of your problems. Therapy is another aspect of inpatient drug rehab that may seem silly at first, but stick with it and it really will help.