Work with an addiction professional

Working with an addiction professional, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, or interventionist, can help you organize an effective intervention. An addiction professional will think about what's going on in your loved one's life, suggest the best approach, and guide you in what type of treatment and follow-up plan is likely to work best.

Often interventions occur without an intervention professional taking part. But having expert help may be best. Sometimes the intervention occurs at the professional's office.

It may be especially important to have the professional attend the intervention to help you stay on track if your loved one:

• Has a history of serious mental illness.
• Has a history of violence.
• Has tried suicide or recently talked about suicide.
• May be taking several mood-altering substances.

It's very important to work with a professional for an intervention to succeed. This is especially true if you think your loved one may react violently or harm themselves.