Crack Interventions: 8 Steps to Success

You may have seen television shows that portray real-life interventions for people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol and desperately need help. Careful preparation can lead to an effective intervention that will increase the odds of convincing a person to go to rehab.

However, what are the steps to a successful intervention for someone who is addicted to crack cocaine, and how can obstacles be overcome that will likely be met along the way?

What Is an Intervention?

Essentially, an intervention for drug abuse is not just a one-time event, but rather a carefully planned process whereby family and friends come together to persuade a person to attend an addiction treatment program. Everyone involved should have some time before the actual intervention to consider what they are going to say.

Rather than assigning blame, an intervention is meant to be positive in nature to maximize the chances that the person will agree to get help. Of course, the person should be made aware of how their addiction is harming themselves and those around them, but the intervention should not focus on blame. Rather, such an event is designed to identify the negative behavioral changes that addiction has caused, and potential solutions.

Many successful interventions are led by experienced interventionists, some of whom may have previously struggled with addiction. Such common ground can help interventionists better understand what the person is experiencing.

What Steps Should Be Taken to Get a Person Help?

If someone you love is addicted to crack cocaine, specific steps need to be taken to stage an effective intervention and guide the person to rehab.

1. Reach out to a professional: Whether it is your physician or an actual interventionist, reaching out for help to the right person is a crucial step in the right direction.
2. Gather people who will be involved in the intervention: Ideally, the people participating in the intervention are people who know the person very closely and have been directly affected by the individual’s negative behavior as a result of the addiction.
3. Establish the logistics of the intervention: Schedule the exact date, time, place and list of people who will be present. Additionally, plan out who will be speaking and when.
4. Learn about the addiction: It is important that everyone involved in the intervention takes some time to better understand what it’s like to be addicted to crack cocaine. Considering what the treatment and recovery process is like may also be helpful.
5. Be prepared with speeches: Ideally, everyone should come in prepared with a written speech. These statements should be very clear about how the person’s addiction has caused pain to others. These statements should also detail any consequences that the person may face if they forgo treatment.
6. Practice a mock intervention: Before the actual intervention takes place, everyone involved should hold a mock intervention to practice how the event will take place and what will be said.
7. Offer support: It is important that friends and family show the person that they are not alone. It may help if everyone offers to support the treatment and recovery process in some way, which can include offering rides to rehab or even attending group therapy sessions with the person.
8. Prepare for rejection: In a perfect world, every person will accept help for addiction, but this does not always happen. Be prepared if the person refuses to go to treatment. If this happens, stand firm with the consequences laid out at the intervention.

Know Someone Who Needs Help With a Crack Cocaine Addiction?

If someone you love is addicted to crack cocaine or another drug, reach out for help right away. Having the support of someone experienced in leading people to rehab can help increase the chances of success. If you need help guiding someone you love to rehab, call Orlando Recovery Center today. We will help put you in touch with the right interventionist or rehab facility so your loved one can finally get much-needed help.