My intervention saved my life. It's normal to feel worried about confronting a loved one with the painful truths of addiction. An intervention won't be easy, may create some tears, and life will never be the same after you speak your mind; but if you really care about that person, it's the best thing you can do to get them the help they need.

If you can ever convince a person who needs help to get it, then you've done a very good thing…no matter what they may think at the time; and more often than not, they'll thank you for it later. I was convinced to enter rehab through an intervention, and I would suggest that anyone thinking about how to get a loved one the help that they need consider this method of encouragement. They are never easy, but they are remarkably effective.

Clinical studies indicate that a brief intervention with a professional for people displaying substance abuse behaviors, but who do not yet have addictions, can influence tremendous behavioral change. The best way to deal with drug or alcohol dependency and abuse is never to let it occur in the first place. While we are very unlikely to curtail trans-cultural human urges towards the consumption of mood altering substances, through better prevention and intervention, we may be able to limit the numbers of people who progress from use to abuse.

Recovery statistics are always of questionable merit, and when so many are in a position to profit from impressive statistics of result and recovery, you have to wonder just how these stats are collected and to what extent they accurately reflect reality. Intervention stats are different though, and addictions professionals universally recognize that an intervention is the absolute best way to convince a reluctant and still using addict of the need for treatment. Interventions will work the vast majority of the time, conservatively with an 80% or better success rate.

You never need to let a loved one hit rock bottom before intervening - in fact, if you do wait that long, the odds of successful treatment are lower

Addiction hijacks the mind, and then confirmation bias boots free will right out the door.

It can drive a family crazy trying to understand "why they won't stop...why they can't see what they're doing to themselves..." when surely things like losing a job or a wife are pretty clear indicators of a problem.

Understand confirmation bias and get a sneaky look inside an alcoholic mind - and understand why they never seem to see the problem.