Intervention Workshop

Jeff Jay and Debra Jay provide an introduction and overview of the Intervention Workshop. How can we come together as a family to help our addicted loved one get treatment? How can we avoid catastrophic consequences and raise the bottom to right now? Planning and preparation are critical. There is little chance for success without training, rehearsal, and a detailed plan. There are many details to consider.

Families often hope it's not really addiction (or substance use disorder). Different family members have different opinions, and that dilutes the power of love and family. By the way, family is whatever we define "family" to be.

Addiction is a brain disease, and sometimes a brain injury. It will not get better on its own. Addiction is a medical problem that requires professional treatment. Our addicted loved one will minimize the problem and blame others. This is normal. We cannot expect the person who has a brain disease to have a clear view of the situation, and certainly not to have the solution. It's up to us to make sure our loved one is offered the help they need.

Debra Jay takes you inside the addicted brain for an up-close look at the neurobiology of addiction. Addiction has been recognized as a disease since 1877, and it has been recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association since 1955.

Addiction is not a learned behavior, or simply a way of medicating unpleasant feelings. People may use chemicals to change the way they feel, but when a person becomes an alcoholic or addict, the situation changes drastically. 

A person suffering from addiction will experience repeated, serious negative consequences as a result of using chemicals, but will continue to use chemicals regardless. This seemingly irrational behavior in an otherwise rational person often frustrates and confuses friends and family (Why doesn't she learn?), but Debra Jay explains why the addicted brain is different.

Substance use disorders, alcoholism and drug addiction are widely misunderstood. They are often considered moral issues or failures of will power, or defects of character. These ideas are wrong. In this chapter, we explore the many myths and misconceptions surrounding addiction, and set the record straight. 

Jeff Jay discusses the dynamics of enabling. Here he defines "innocent enabling," which happens when the family thinks there loved one is just going through a phase, and will grow out of their problem. Then he talks about "desperate enabling," when the family finally realizes their loved one has a disease, and they are desperately trying to avoid greater consequences. He then discusses the process by which families awaken to what they really need to do.

Debra Jay describes the changes that happen inside the brains of family members and friends who are trying to deal with an active addict. How does unpredictable stress and unmanageability affect us? How does stress and fear affect the developing brains of children in the household? This podcasts gives us even more reasons to take action.

Why does 1-to-1 discussion seem fruitless with someone with a substance use disorder? Addicted people tend to keep friends and family off balance, telling different stories to different people, pitting one against another, and playing the blame game. When family and friends come together in a serious learning, training, and rehearsal process, they become a powerful force for good in their loved one's life. In fact, family and friends are the perfect group, as they have the best intentions and the power of love.

Addiction robs the individual of their integrity, causing them to lie to the people they love the most. But family members also lose their integrity. We say we won't stand for it anymore, but we do. We say we won't cover up or enable, but we do. the intervention process helps family members recover their own integrity, and set a positive example for their addicted loved one. We are going to learn, get a new plan and take action.

Starting your intervention process. Choosing a detail person. Downloadable materials. How to find a good interventionist, getting referrals from top treatment provider. The necessity for planning carefully, and not cutting corners. When you need a professional: 1) history of suicide attempts, 2) co-occurring psychiatric disorders, 3) history of violence, 4) family can't work together, 5) history of failed treatment attempts, 6) if the family is uncomfortable doing it on their own. Tools and documents mentioned in the podcast can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/IWdocs33.

Who should be on your intervention team? Who should not be on the intervention team? How to involve reluctant team members and bring them into process. Guidelines for when children (minimum age 12) can be involved. Tips for determining if an employer can be involved. How to work with an EAP or human resources department. Getting time off work for treatment.