An intervention is a deliberate and planned process through which change is introduced into the alcoholic’s or addict’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It is the act of coming between an individual and a behavior, e.g. alcohol abuse, drug addiction, self-mutilation that has become harmful or life threatening.
This action is taken in defense of a love one because they have consistently demonstrated that they are unwilling or unable to act on their own behalf.
A formal intervention, as described, usually involves several people, normally family and/or loved ones, with the Interventionist’s assistance, first preparing themselves with their collective thoughts and concerns to be presented to the afflicted person. With the Interventionist, the family and/or loved ones approach the alcoholic/addict or person involved in other self‑destructive behavior, and talk to that person in a clear and respectful way about the behavior in question. The immediate objective of this encounter is for the person to listen and to accept help, and hopefully to immediately enter into a recovery program.
No matter what is the eventual outcome on Intervention day, the process will most certainly get the sufferer's attention. If that person refuses to comply with what the family has requested, he nearly always does change for the better in some way, usually by accepting some form of help at a later date--the next day, the next week, or even the next month or two. In short, it will never again be business as usual for anyone involved in the Intervention process.
