Drug and Alcohol Interventions: Do They Work?

drug and alcohol interventions

Learn about interventions from a certified professional interventionist

When families contact Adam Banks Recovery they typically want to know the average success rate of drug and alcohol interventions. In our discussions I find that most people don’t fully understand interventions.

In pop culture and the media, interventions are portrayed as a volatile, one-off events where an individual is ambushed by their loved ones and pressured into recovery. However, at Adam Banks Recovery, I don’t perform or recommend confrontational interventions because we have seen how damaging they can be.

Interventions take time and planning

I have recognized that they are opportunities for individuals and their families to move forward together and control addiction in a healthy way. Before I agree to an intervention, I conduct a thorough background assessment on the individual through a series of phone and/or video calls with members of their inner circle.

My intervention process is a positive experience that allows individuals to recover through a structured program. It doesn’t happen overnight, but through a series of interactions with loved ones, professionals, and coaches.

Let’s break it down a bit more

Interventions aren’t a last-minute thing

Normally, it takes 2-3 weeks to get the individual to engage in a recovery program, and that’s only the beginning. The destination is miles away. I monitor and engage with the person of concern and their family during that 2–3-week period to evaluate their behavior and ensure they have a successful start to recovery.

Interventions help subjects get past the “NO” phase

I always tell families that it’s good to get all the “no’s” out of the way in the beginning of the process. Almost everyone says no to recovery at first. However, this doesn’t stop the intervention process. We pause, re-group, and try again. The show must go on!

Interventions can help the subject’s family cope

I have conducted an innumerable number of successful interventions and helped countless families. This allows our clients to feel comfortable and rest easy knowing that there is a way forward, and they no longer have to do it alone.

Interventions help determine treatment options

Not all clients need inpatient treatment. But, if their home environment is not conducive to maintaining sobriety, an inpatient facility might be the only option. Complex mental health issues or poly-substance use might also necessitate a move to rehabilitation. Contrarily, if the person of concern is stable and dedicated to recovery, there are many outpatient options available for review.

Interventions should include an aftercare plan

Believe it or not, it’s easy to stay sober in rehab. The hard part of recovery is what happens when you graduate a rehab program and head home. This difficulty reentering “real life” is why it’s critical that the intervention process also involves creating an aftercare plan. My interventionists help our clients find the best aftercare options before they graduate their inpatient program.

Interventions create an affordable path to recovery

There are thousands of treatment centers across the United States. Before recommending a path to recovery, I will evaluate the client’s insurance plan and financial requirements to find treatment programs and aftercare options that best suit their needs.

Interventions catalog successes (and failures)

Prior to an intervention, it’s common for many families to have dished out ultimatums to their loved ones demanding change. Usually the loved one will agree to change, but these commitments are often short-lived and followed by a return to active addiction.

The intervention process does not allow for empty promises. Progress and regressions are documented and analyzed. We look for patterns in our clients’ successes and failures. If sobriety is maintained and promises are kept for a sustained amount of time, we celebrate the victory. If there is a relapse (a return to drug/alcohol use), we usually recommend higher levels of care or a change in the recovery plan.

Interventions consider the underlying causes of addiction

People often assume that addiction is a choice. But there is no smoke without fire. Many addictions are responses to trauma, hardship, or physical pain, and serve as maladaptive coping mechanisms. By addressing the root cause, it’s more likely that the individual will agree to attend rehab, participate fully in treatment, and experience a successful recovery.

When families call me they are at their wit’s end. While a 30 or 90 day plan might sound like a lengthy amount of time, change begins to take shape immediately. All you need to do is take a leap a faith.

About Adam Banks

Adam Banks is a certified interventionist and the owner of Adam Banks Recovery. After receiving an MBA from the University of Chicago, Adam built a company acquired by United Health Care. His discipline and attention to detail comes from his former career as an airline pilot, holding an ATP, the FAA’s highest license.

Today, Adam is dedicated to helping others achieve long-term sobriety. His work has guided executives, pilots, and physicians on paths to recovery. Adam brings families together through a loving and inclusive approach.

Adam has authored four books on addiction. His recent work, Navigating Recovery Ground School: 12 Lessons to Help Families Navigate Recovery, educates families on the entire intervention process. He also offers a free video course for families considering an intervention for a loved one. 

Adam is available for alcohol and drug intervention services in New York, Long Island, the Hamptons as well as nationally and internationally. 

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