What to Do When a Failed Intervention Occurs

Addressing a loved one’s drug addiction is challenging enough without throwing a failed intervention in the mix. When a loved one is unwilling or unable to come to terms with their substance use issues, family members often feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and hopeless. We see them struggling with their own lives and witness the challenges it brings to those who care for them. But just because an intervention fails doesn’t mean your loved ones won’t eventually seek treatment.

Instead, failed interventions simply mean you need more patience, determination, and hope. Interventions often lead to emotional events, where feelings are openly expressed and vulnerabilities are shared among participants. An addicted family member may know they are loved — but in the throes of their disorder, they can’t seek the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Knowing what to do when an intervention fails can offer some peace of mind despite the severity of the situation.

Immediate Actions to Take After an Intervention Doesn’t Work

When an alcohol or drug intervention doesn’t go as planned, it can be incredibly disheartening for everyone involved. It’s essential to act swiftly and thoughtfully to mitigate any negative effects and keep the lines of communication open. Here are the immediate steps you should consider:

Stay Calm and Composed

Emotions can run high after a failed drug or alcohol intervention. It’s crucial to avoid any confrontational behavior and instead focus on maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. Let your loved one know that you care about them and that your main goal is to support their well-being. Express empathy and understanding, even if they react negatively.

Evaluate the Situation

Check if your loved one is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical attention. If there is any risk of self-harm or harm to others, seek professional help immediately. Take a step back and evaluate what aspects of the addiction intervention did not work. Consider the timing, the people involved, and the approach used.

Seek Professional Guidance

If you didn’t work with a trained interventionist, reach out to a counselor, therapist, or intervention specialist who can provide immediate advice and support. They can offer insights into what might have gone wrong and how to proceed. Schedule a follow-up appointment with a professional to discuss long-term strategies and next steps.

Maintain Communication

Ensure your loved one knows that the conversation about their well-being is still open. Avoid making them feel cornered or pressured, but make it clear that you are there for them whenever they are ready to talk. It’s important to avoid blaming your loved one or making them feel guilty about the intervention. Instead, focus on expressing your concern and willingness to help.

Maintain Boundaries Set During the Intervention

Even if the intervention failed, you likely set boundaries to help your loved one consider getting professional help. Whatever boundaries you put forth during that meeting still stand despite the outcome. One of the ways to stop the situation from spinning any further out of control for the entire family is to enforce the boundaries that protect the well-being of the larger family unit.

Drug abuse doesn’t just impact the person using drugs; it also impacts everyone around them. You must protect your own mental well-being and that of others in the family by reinforcing boundaries.

Prepare Yourself for a Poor Reaction to Boundaries

Once you set and enforce boundaries, your addicted family member may have a very negative reaction, and you and your loved ones may be the target of it. Interventions fail when families are ill-prepared for a bad outcome and the impact that may follow. Any future interventions to address drug or alcohol issues are incumbent on your ability to hold to your bottom line.

Get ready for a negative reaction and resolve among the entire family not to react, no matter how angry, stressed or sad your loved one may be.

Common Reasons for Intervention Failures

• Lack of Preparation: A successful intervention requires careful planning and coordination. If the intervention is not thoroughly planned, it can quickly go off course.
• Timing Issues: Choosing the right time for an intervention is critical. Interventions conducted when the individual is highly stressed, intoxicated, or facing significant personal issues are less likely to be successful.
• Inappropriate Approach: An intervention should be approached with compassion and understanding, rather than anger and blame. If the person feels attacked or misunderstood, they are likely to become defensive.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Expecting immediate agreement and commitment to treatment can lead to disappointment.
• Lack of Support Systems: A strong support network is crucial for recovery. If the person does not have access to a supportive environment, their chances of relapse increase.

Moving Forward After a Failed Intervention

Reassess the Approach

Take time to review the intervention process and identify what aspects were unsuccessful. Understanding why an intervention doesn’t work can provide valuable insights for future attempts. Engaging with an addiction professional interventionist can provide a more structured and effective intervention approach. They bring experience and neutrality to the process, which can be crucial in overcoming resistance.

Maintain Hope and Persistence

Understand that recovery is a process, and setbacks are part of the journey. Maintain your commitment to helping your loved one and keep the lines of communication open even when an intervention doesn’t work. Acknowledge any small steps your loved one takes towards recovery, even if they are not immediately ready to enter treatment. Positive reinforcement can encourage them to continue making progress.

Get Help on Your Own

Depending on the role you’ve played in your loved one’s drug abuse, this is the best time to get yourself therapy. Even with an unsuccessful intervention, it’s essential for the family to face the challenges together. Perhaps you’ve been traumatized by decisions your loved one made at the height of their addiction; alternatively, you may have issues with codependence or enabling behaviors. Whatever challenge you face, you’ve been negatively affected by your loved one’s alcohol and drug abuse in some way. Therefore, you must work on it despite your loved one’s unwillingness to do the same.

Substance abuse rarely impacts just the person struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. True recovery is only possible if the entire family unit gets help in breaking toxic patterns developed during active use. While drug use treatment is the first goal on the recovery journey, healing for the entire family is the ultimate ideal to attain. Getting therapy for the trauma you’ve endured due to exposure to your loved one’s drug and is a step in the right direction for the entire family.

Learn More About Addiction

The more you know about drug abuse, the better prepared you’ll be about the realities of recovery and drug rehab. Interventions fail when families don’t understand addiction, often due to unclear statements, unrealistic expectations, and a lack of healthy boundaries. As such, addiction education can also help you plan a successful intervention. Take time to learn about a loved one’s addiction from a professional interventionist. Seek knowledge on your own from other professional resources so you better understand your loved one’s addiction and their need to receive treatment. Find out information about your loved one’s health insurance capabilities to determine what’s possible regarding treatment.

This is also a good opportunity to learn more about the treatment options available for substance use disorder. Educating yourself on addiction helps you understand any treatment plan recommended for your loved one and can set you up to be a more viable support for your addicted loved one. Moreover, intervention education provides tools to avoid another failed intervention.

Choose an Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Program to Fit Your Needs

Choosing the best addiction treatment center for your family member or friend is imperative. The right treatment center can make all the difference in addiction recovery. The more program offerings a treatment center has, the more robust its approach will likely be. Addicted loved ones may not appreciate your efforts to help them while they’re actively using, but chances are they will once they begin their recovery journey. Working with a certified interventionist is just the first step in this process.

Camelback Recovery combines its approach to substance abuse treatment in Phoenix, AZ, with mental health treatment to address any co-occurring disorders that may feed addiction. We help our patients regain their love of life while engaging them in a lifelong recovery process built to withstand potential pitfalls. Contact us today at 602-466-9880 to learn more about our intervention services in Arizona.