7 tips on alcoholism intervention

For friends or family, alcoholism intervention can be scary. I speak from experience and offer tips on alcoholism intervention and how to present your concerns to a friend or loved one about possible alcoholism.

2
minute read

Alcoholism intervention how to guide

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73quXsrhFBs[/youtube]

1. Choose the right time – set aside 30 minutes to an hour to talk to your friend. Also, make sure that your friend is sober when you address your concerns. Don’t plan an intervention when your friend has been drinking. It won’t go over well.
2. Don’t go alone – Interventions can be more powerful when two or three friends address the same concern.

3. Be neutral – Take a very objective tone. Let the person know that you are concerned and talk about very specific details of their behavior.

4. Be specific – Jot down some notes, or have at least two or three examples of potential alcoholic behaviors. This is to present data to your friend, and to help her overcome denial.

5. Be kind – Tune in to your friend’s need and show compassion. It doesn’t help to accuse. Rather, present your concerns and data, and then allow time for feedback.

6. Listen – Take time to ask your friend what she thinks and feels. You will need feedback to know what to do next.

7. Have a plan – Look into treatment options for your friend so that you can suggest next steps. Maybe there is free campus counseling that you can help her set up. Or look into community resources.

Discussion

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Having trouble with a friend of loved one’s drinking?  You are not alone.  Let us know and we’ll try to point you in the right direction.

About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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