No, there are other options. Many outpatient substance abuse treatment programs and private counselors conduct formal interventions. It is important to work with a professional who can help you decide if this process is appropriate for your family or client.
- To plan an intervention, family and friends should meet with a trained counselor who will help them to:
- Express concerns about their loved one's substance use
- Identify the person's resistance to stop using substances
- Decide what they can and cannot do
- Accept the outcome if the person refuses to accept treatment
Bottom Lines
Set your bottom line, examples of bottom lines can be:
- Not lending the individual any more money.
- Not allowing her/him to drink in your home
- The possibility of petitioning for a Section 35 commitment as part of the bottom line
Program Referrals
We know that people important to the individual abusing substances can have a tremendous impact both positively and negatively on a person's denial of their substance abuse problem.
Individuals who are requesting treatment on their own should be considered for referral to public programs that can provide treatment on a voluntary basis, rather than be referred to a Section 35 petition process.