Ask Joe:
Q:Â Does intervention have to be a surprise attack?
A: No.
Most people think of an intervention as a type of ambush, but it doesn’t have to happen like that.
Just one person can conduct an intervention, and it can be as casual and relaxed as a conversation over coffee. Also, if the intervention is carried out by a professional, a few phone calls to the addict or alcoholic could be all it takes.
How an intervention is approached will depend on the situation and the person with the problem. For some, the surprise type of intervention may be the best approach.
I would advise people to talk it through with a treatment center or professional, and then make the choice that seems best.
It’s important to plan when to approach your loved one, and then what to say. An ideal time is shortly after they have been on a binge, or when they have a hangover.
~Joe Herzanek/Author, Why Don’t They Just Quit? Hope for families struggling with addiction.
“There were a couple of things in the intervention
that made me know I needed help.
One was a letter from my daughter saying
that she was ashamed
she had the same last name as I did . . .“
~Pat Summerall
Updated and Revised
This “Q & A with Joe†is excerpted from
Part 5 of the updated edition:
“Why Don’t They Just Quit?
Hope for families struggling with addiction.”
(click above to purchase)
RESOURCES:
>Â Phone Counseling for Family Members
>Â Recommended Books and DVDs for families of substance abusers and addicts
>Â Low cost, No cost Alcohol and Drug Treatment Directory
>Â Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Recovery Resources for Friends, Families and Employers
If you found this article helpful:
please see our “Ask Joe†posts listed at the bottom and consider reading:
“Why Don’t they Just Quit? Hope for families struggling with addiction.â€
Available at:
> Our website, “Why Don’t They Just Quit?â€
> Amazon.com
> Changing Lives Amazon Storefront (buy new, from us for much less)
Updated and Revised Edition
Recent Amazon.com reviews:
Best book ever about addiction. Written by one whose done it and is recovering. Easy to read, not preachy, just honest. I recommend this book to anyone with an addict in their life! ~Lynda A
Got an addiction problem in your family? Read this book. Joe knows his stuff. This book helps you better understand those dealing with friends and family that are addicted to drugs and alcohol. I have read several of these books but this one is the best. ~RJ
I, like many people, have some knowledge of what drugs and addiction are, but are clueless on what the process of recovery entails. This book does a great job in what it would take to help a loved one, who is an addict and is willing to get clean and stay clean. It also gives one hope that your loved one will survive the nightmare they are living through with their family. ~CG
> Paperback
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> Audible Audio Download (LISTEN TO 4 MIN. SAMPLE NOW)
ASK JOE:
> Do you have to stop seeing all your old friends in order to recover?
> Is a relapse—failure?
>Should my husband “back off?”
> If someone can stop using drugs or alcohol for weeks at a time, they “aren’t an addict—correct?
>Chronic Pain Management & Pain Pill Addiction: What to do?
>How can I know if my addicted friend or loved one is telling the truth?
>How can I tell if someone is an addict/alcoholic or just a heavy user?
>What is Methadone? What is Harm Reduction?
SELF TESTS:
> Self-Tests: Codependence
> Self-Tests: Alcohol and Drug Addiction
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