Paper Example on Family Struggles with Alcohol Addiction: Effects on All Involved

Introduction

In a family, it is hard for the members to see one of them suffering from severe alcohol addiction. It can take a toll on their lives, and the situation brings up many uncertainties. They can feel afraid to talk to the affected individual, and they may also feel alone as they do not know how to handle the situation. Alcohol addiction affects an individual's life in many ways, and the people around them also felt the effects (Stevens & Smith, 2012). The effects get worse if the family members do not think that the affected individual is making progress in dealing with the addiction problem. However, an intervention program helps, despite talking someone out of addiction being a challenging endeavor.

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Uncertainties always rotate around individuals trying to help someone out of alcohol addiction. They may feel that their efforts are useless as the affected individual always go back to their old ways. However, addiction is not always a choice as one may start using alcohol and, with time, get addicted unknowingly. They may not want to continue with the use of alcohol, but they are stuck as they experience withdrawal symptoms every time they try to stop (Stevens & Smith, 2012). Therefore, the addicted individual turns to drink at any time to get comfortable. It becomes a lifestyle to them, and an intervention program comes in handy. An intervention program can always start at home before transitioning the individual to a professional if necessary, or when family members cannot handle the case.

Intervention Program

Setting

At the addicted person's home or a neutral ground like a park.

Duration

Two hours and follow-up lasting up to 2 months or more depending on the response.

Personnel background, experience, and communication

The personnel includes family members, close friends, and an expert in drug and alcohol abuse. The family members and close friends to the addicted individual do not need any experience, but they are there because of their trust with the affected person (Romero-Martínez et al., 2016). The expert has to have experience in dealing with individuals with problems with drugs and alcohol abuse. Communication occurs through an open dialogue during the intervention program process, and everyone can contribute. The expert can help with suggestions on issues like treatment options or strategies to overcome the addiction. The close family members and friends are crucial to discover what the addicted individual is going through so that they get assistance on their problem.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

According to the law, everyone has a right to get fair treatment regardless of their situation. It means following all the standards laid out in the constitution in the intervention program. The addicted person's interest should be protected to maintain equality and rightness (Müller, 2017). The law plays a primary role in influencing the ethical principles applied in the intervention program. The ethical principles include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for others.

Autonomy means that an individual has the freedom to make decisions on their own. According to the law, individuals should have a right to consent if they do not have control over the choices. An individual is, therefore, free to choose from any treatment plan offered to them as long as they are suitable for their well-being. Beneficence refers to the good that action taken against someone has. It means that the intervention program should be for good intentions. The addicted person should receive the best treatment. Non-maleficence states that no harm should be directed towards an individual in any way to bring suffering or inflict pain. The family members should treat the addicted individual with respect (Müller, 2017). However, some actions may bring pain indirectly, and it is not part of maleficence. Respect for others means that an individual's rights and decisions are a priority.

The Dos and Don'ts

An alcohol intervention involves talking to an addicted individual collectively by close people around them, spelling out their concerns on the situation. It is crucial to avoid anger and criticism as it may put off the individual, and they may respond negatively. The target is to show the individual how much people care about them and that they are concerned about their condition and that they would not want to see them lose their personality or life to alcohol addiction (Lila et al., 2017). It is, therefore, essential to employ the right strategies to evoke a positive reaction.

The Dos

The intervention should only include the people that the addicted individual trust at the minimum. It means that they can get comfortable with the situation, and they can avoid emotional imbalances. It shows how important it is to surround them with people they can relate with at a personal level as the issue is a crucial one. It is because the conversation gets very personal, and the affected individual needs to feel the seriousness of the matter. People who should not be present are those that the addicted individual does not like or have mental disorders (Lila et al., 2017). They should not also be victims of substance abuse. Individuals who cannot control their emotions or what they say as planned should not be allowed in the intervention as they may spoil the program.

The next thing is to select an appropriate location. It should be a neutral place, and everyone involved should be comfortable. The people performing the intervention should go through what they are planning to tell the individual beforehand so that they do not mix themselves up, or deviate to irrelevant issues. They should decide on what to cover and what to ignore. The intervention team should look for the best time to go on with the process, and it should be a happy moment for everyone involved. It is essential to research the alcohol abuse problem that the addicted individual has. It helps everyone involved to understand what the situation is, and they can adjust their approach accordingly. The team should select one individual who will do most of the talking as it can get worse if people mix up themselves during the process. It ensures effective communication throughout the intervention process, as the main points are passed on successfully (Lila et al., 2017). Even with one person pushing through the main points, everyone involved must be up to speed with the agenda of the intervention. In case of any updates, it should be communicated with tools such as messaging or social media groups, therefore making good use of technology.

The intervention team should be ready for objections from the addicted person. It shows that the level of preparedness is key to the success of the program. Therefore, the team should come up with appropriate responses, and they should present them calmly and rationally to prevent provoking the addicted individual. It means that the addicted person should feel a level of support so that they do not think that they are alone in the process as they have a variety of treatment options. They should get respect and love, and hostility should not be at the back of anyone's mind as it will spoil the whole process.

The intervention team should stick to the laid out plan, no matter what happens in the meeting from various emotions and reactions. It is essential to adhere to the program to maintain consistency so as not to stray from the main points in the conversation. The addicted individual should not get much time to decide on the treatment options they would like to take (Lila et al., 2017). The decision should be immediate, as waiting for a later time can make them think differently, and they will shy away from the intervention.

The Don'ts

It is essential to understand that many things can go wrong. One is preparation, as the people doing the intervention should always get ready. If they do not prepare, they may not address the issue appropriately, rehearsing a necessity. The addicted individual should, however, feel targeted, but the people doing it should be highly prepared (Schwinn et al., 2019). The addicted person should not be expecting the intervention as they can prepare to stray away from the main issues at hand. With the intervention team ready, the process can go on smoothly.

The intervention team should avoid blaming each other or the addicted person during an intervention. It makes everyone uncomfortable, especially the addicted person that the team is aiming to help. A blame game does not benefit anyone in the process, but it makes things worse. It makes it difficult for the intervention to become fruitful in coming up with a solution for the addicted person. It will, however, show negativity in the meeting, which makes it difficult for the intervention to be successful (Schwinn et al., 2019). It can hurt the addicted individual in the conversation, and it can be challenging to reverse the damages. Another thing to avoid is doing the intervention when the individual is high on alcohol. It is terrible timing, and the conversation may not head anywhere as alcohol causes

Inclusion of Family Members and Friends

Close family members and friends should be present in the intervention program. However, they need to be close to the addicted individual to build trust from the addicted individual, and they can open up on their condition. Their role is to make the addicted individual comfortable with the intervention program and so that they can understand the scale of it and how it is affecting others. The expert in the program can then implement their profession to come up with the best solutions for the problem.

Professional Advice

The intervention team must seek professional advice before going ahead with the process. A professional help identify the key issues to address, and they can gauge the severity of the condition so that they can give the best recommendations. An addicted individual may require more than intervention, and that is where the professional comes in as they may suggest day treatment or outpatient treatment programs. If the condition cannot be dealt with by the above treatment options, the affected individual may have to be admitted for treatment, especially if the addicted person has an underlying health problem (Schwinn et al., 2019).

When seeking professional advice, there are tips to get the best out of it. One is to ask the expert about the available treatment options and the most appropriate ones. The intervention team can contact support groups or alcohol and drug abuse to get more advice on treatment options and intervention. The intervention team should, however, be keen to avoid different treatment options as they may bring more harm than good (Spicer & Miller, 2016). Support groups are essential as they can help the addicted individual after the intervention to overcome the problem.

When Intervention Fails

An intervention does not mean that it will be successful. The addicted individual can react negatively to the process, and they can ignore the suggestions or treatment options presented to them. Emotional reactions like anger are normal in intervention programs and especially in the first attempt. The intervention team can reevaluate the process at a later time and seek more professional advice and try it another time. Before an intervention fails, it is essential to be emotionally ready for all scenarios as it can be hurting, especially if the addicted person is very close (Spicer & Miller, 2016). However, it is essential not to give up even though it can be overwhelming.

Alcohol addiction affects everyone around the person in the picture. It can result in sp...