What Are the Intervention Approaches for Drugs?

Intervention approaches for drugs provide substance users/abusers the chance to free themselves from the debilitating effects that drugs have on their mental and physical health. Intervention strategies include drug prevention strategies, initial use approaches, exploration and experimentation intervention, integrated use intervention, and excessive use and addiction intervention. Each strategy can be utilized as an exclusive tool or in combination with other approaches.

Prevention Intervention

• The best way not to get hooked on drugs is never to start using. At this stage, parents and friends have the greatest impact in helping loved ones stay away from drugs and alcohol. Parents and friends providing their loved ones with emotional support, affirmation and encouragement tend to give them a good foundation to resist the allure and pressure of doing drugs and drinking alcohol.

Initial Use Intervention

• You don't want to be so alarmed at the initial use stage that you overreact by blaming and attempting to shame the individual. However, you don't want to be nonchalant about it and treat it as trivial. The intervention has a better chance of being successful if you sit down and talk with the user and let her talk about what caused her to use in the first place. Discuss the risk factors of drug and alcohol abuse.

Experimentation Intervention

• When those who are doing drugs and drinking alcohol are exploring and experimenting, the chance of becoming addicted increases. Giving them information about chemical dependency and addiction is key. Those experimenting need to know the devastating impact and effects drug and alcohol abuse have on a mind and body. This information could cause them to stop using or at least make them think about what their lives could turn into when using and abusing.

Integrated Intervention

• When drug and alcohol use becomes integrated, big trouble will likely follow. A trained drug and/or alcohol counselor now needs to enter the picture. The counselor will assess the severity of the use. All of the negative factors associated with integrated drug and alcohol use will be broached between the counselor and the user. At this stage, users may be in denial of a serious problem and need the counseling to address this denial.

Excessive Use Intervention

• The degree of intervention must be intensified if drug/alcohol abuse is long term and pervasive. A 12-step program, inpatient/residential treatment, intensive outpatient counseling and drug/alcohol tests will have to be employed to combat the excessive use and addictive behavior. Families should set strong boundaries and consequences and begin to hold the user accountable for his illicit behavior. Holding him accountable will help him practice more productive and responsible behaviors.