An intervention involves creating a life crisis for the addicted person to help them realize that their drinking/using cannot and will not continue.
Most people with addictions will not quit on their own. A crisis must take place that forces them to get treatment and make changes. If this life crisis does not naturally occur, family and friends can create a crisis by doing an intervention.
This is done by giving the chemically dependent person a “bottom line” if they continue to use/drink and refuse to get help. For example, it can include:
- No longer giving the person money.
- Not allowing a person to live within the house.
- Cutting off all contact until the person agrees to get help
“Bottom lines” such as the above are intended to be used as leverage to get the person to agree to get treatment for their addiction. If “bottom lines” are not established, the person has no reason to make changes.