What is a Substance Use Intervention?

Substance use interventions involve a carefully planned and structured process typically initiated by the family and friends of someone struggling with addiction. Along with a trained therapist or counselor, these people come together to encourage the individual to seek treatment and enact healthy changes.

At Guardian Recovery — Tampa Addiction Center our team of specialists works directly with several experienced interventionists in the Tampa, FL, area who are equipped to work with anyone in need of help with substance misuse. Contact us to learn more about our detox and addiction treatment programs and take the first step in helping your loved one receive the care and support they need to reclaim their lives.

Substance Use Interventions

Planning an addiction intervention begins by outlining several goals for confronting and convincing a loved one to seek treatment.

Goals for Helping a Loved One Typically Include:

• Providing a non-judgmental and supportive setting so that all involved in the intervention can healthily express themselves.
• Ensuring they recognize the harm their behavior is causing to themselves and others and prompting them to take responsibility for their actions.
• Encouraging them to seek professional help for their addiction and helping them understand the benefits.
• Motivating them to overcome denial and resistance to seeking treatment.

Process of Conducting an Intervention

Staging a family intervention for substance abuse involves a structured process that includes significant planning and preparation, information gathering, and rehearsal.

• Planning and Preparation—Family, friends, and a trained specialist gather to discuss the loved one’s substance misuse, its effects, and the goals of the intervention. Ideally, 4 to 6 individuals with close familial ties or emotional bonds with the individual will participate. 
• Information Gathering—The group shares their experiences and concerns about the loved one’s addiction, and the interventionist provides information about the nature of substance misuse, treatment options, and the path to recovery.
• Rehearsal—Participants practice their statements and responses to their loved one’s possible reactions, ensuring that all unite to facilitate an empathetic, supportive approach.
• Scheduling—The intervention should be conducted when the individual is most likely to be sober, relaxed, and receptive. The location should be private and comfortable where they feel safe and secure.
• Intervention—Family, friends, and the interventionist meet with the loved one, sharing their prepared statements and expressing their feelings and hopes for recovery. During this part of the process, the interventionist actively guides interactions to ensure the group remains focused on the objective.
• Treatment Options—The loved one is presented with potential treatment options and urged to seek help immediately. Often, a plan is already established and ready for action if the individual agrees to it.
• Follow-Up—Following the intervention, family and friends continue to support the loved one and encourage them to stick to their commitment to seek treatment and recover.

Our Facility

https://www.curasouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CuraSouth-Jan-27-72.jpgGuardian Recovery – Tampa Addiction Center

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Role of the Interventionist

Interventionists begin the process by assessing the circumstances surrounding the individual’s substance misuse to ensure this approach is appropriate. At this time, they gather information about the individual and the group’s dynamics. Next, they develop an intervention plan that includes who will participate, when and where it will be performed, and what actions may follow.

Other Responsibilities Include:

• Educating Participants—Psychoeducation teaches intervention participants the nature of addiction, its causes and effects, the loved one’s challenges, and potential expectations for the meeting. Psychoeducation is typically provided to participants before the intervention.
• Facilitating the Process—The interventionist facilitates the process, which typically involves coordinating with family members, friends, other professionals, and support networks. This includes organizing and guiding conversations and ensuring the intervention stays focused on its goal.
• Providing Support—Through the process, the interventionist provides support and guidance to the person struggling with addiction and their loved ones. This often involves counseling, encouragement, and locating additional resources.
• Monitoring Progress and Follow-Up—The interventionist monitors the plan’s progress and adjusts it based on the person’s responses and varying circumstances. This typically includes conducting ongoing assessments, gathering feedback, and continuing communication with all of those involved. Throughout the process, they address any challenges the group encounters and reinforce positive changes.

The Role of Participants

The role of intervention participants is to provide the loved one with emotional support and convey that they deeply care about their health and well-being. They share concerns regarding the individual’s behavior, the impact it has had on themselves and others, and the need for treatment.

Next, group members offer assistance and resources to support the loved one in making positive changes. They must also commit to altering their own behaviors and attitudes to help the individual embark on their recovery journey.

Interventionist Strategies

Several  techniques and strategies are used to facilitate the process, depending on the needs of the participants and their loved ones. 

Emotional Support

Interventions can be extremely stressful for all parties involved. Interventionists can offer emotional support, reassurance, guidance, and validation. They can help participants and their loved ones better manage feelings such as anger, guilt, and resentment. 

Boundary Setting

Setting clear boundaries and establishing the consequences for continued substance misuse is necessary to motivate the individual to seek treatment. Loved ones are encouraged to identify and express specific actions they will take if the person refuses to get help, such as limiting contact or financial support.

Assisting in Transition to Treatment

Ideally, the interventionist ensures the individual has immediate access to a treatment program. This may involve arranging admission to a detox center, residential facility, or outpatient program. Also, assisting with transportation can help reduce barriers to treatment. Preparation may also include providing information about the program, such as a daily schedule, available services, and rules and expectations.

Offering Detox Support

If medical detox is required as part of the individual’s treatment, the interventionist can provide information about the detox process and coordinate communication between medical staff and the support network.

Monitoring & Ongoing Support

The interventionist continues to monitor the person’s progress in recovery, provide support, collaborate with treatment staff, coordinate aftercare services with other professionals, and make adjustments to the plan as needed. They can also connect the individual with various support services, such as educational programs, vocational training, housing assistance, and childcare.

Commonly Asked Questions

We offer programs lengths individualized for each client. Generally detox is anywhere from 3-7 days. These are estimates and are adjusted to meet the needs of the individual client.

Yes! We work with most major insurance providers. We offer free no-obligation insurance benefit checks for those who are interested in our program. Our admissions team will speak with your insurer and get a detailed verification of your insurance benefits and share those details with you. Unfortunately Medicaid and Medicare do not cover our facility.

Guardian Recovery facilities are located in the Southeast United States. Our first facility to launch is based near Tampa Bay, Florida at:

405 7th Ave SW
Largo, FL 33770

Absolutely. We understand that addiction affects the entire family system and encourage families to participate in their loved one’s treatment. To help families recover we also offer intervention services, case management, and family workshops.

Yes. We believe in complete and total confidentiality and privacy for all of our clients. We take extra measures to make sure we go above and beyond HIPAA and health privacy standards. If you are concerned about specific privacy requirements please feel free to reach out and we can answer your questions.

While we strongly discourage leaving before treatment completion, we are not a lockdown facility. Clients are in our program voluntarily and may leave when they want.

Clients who need to take off work to attend treatment may be eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA ensures that you will not be terminated while taking a leave of absence from work to attend treatment. Our admissions and case management staff can help with setting up any FMLA paperwork. For clients who are self employed, we do offer an executive program that allows for cellphone and laptop access in certain cases during business hours.

Admissions is quick and easy. Once you call our admissions team one of our dedicated treatment advisors will perform a pre-assessment over the phone . This takes about 10 minutes and just makes sure Guardian Recovery is the best fit for you or your loved ones individual needs. After the assessment we will verify insurance benefits and arrange a time for your intake (this can be as quick as 30 minutes from the initial call). If you need a ride to the facility we will dispatch one of our drivers and you will begin your recovery at our facility. It is that easy. To get started call us 24/7 at (844) 904-1778 or submit this online form click here.

Contact Tampa Addiction Center to Learn More About Intervention & Treatment Options

Staging an intervention can be an effective way to motivate a loved one resistant to sobriety to seek treatment. Using a professional to guide the process can ensure that communication remains productive and the loved one isn’t blamed or shamed for their addiction and behavior. 

In addition to providing access to intervention services, Tampa Addiction Center offers medical detox, individual therapy, and family and group support. To help individuals sustain long-lasting sobriety, we also provide relapse prevention training and aftercare planning. 

If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, reach out today for a free, confidential, and no-obligation call. Our staff can not only answer your questions and discuss care options but also verify insurance benefits and discuss various payment options. Take your first step toward recovery today and give us a call now.

1. MyPanhandle.com. Map: These Florida Counties Are Home to the Most Excessive Drinkings, Study Finds. Available from: https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/florida/florida-news/map-these-florida-counties-are-home-to-the-most-excessive-drinkers-study-finds/
2. FLHealthCharts. Overdoses. Available from: https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=SubstanceUse.Overdose
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Florida. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35964/NSDUHHsaeSpecificStates2020F/NSDUHsaeFlorida2020.pdf
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States. Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-nnr.pdf