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Washington D.C. Intervention

Information on Drugs, Alcohol, and Interventions in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. has long been plagued by a variety of drug problems. The city’s population provides a cover for ethnic drug trafficking groups from around the world. Alongside the intense drug-trafficking subculture, Washington D.C. has a strong history of violence. Most notably, the disorder associated with crack cocaine distribution. Despite being our nation’s capital with the high rate of drug abuse, treatment options in Washington D.C. are few and far between. Many residents are forced to seek treatment out of the area.

We specialize in building a plan that not only helps the addict heal but the family as well. As a company founded by a family who has struggled with substance abuse, we know what it is like to have a significant rift within the household that comes from drugs and alcohol. Due to our passion and drive for success, we have become the most significant intervention service provider in North America, providing around 400 successful interventions per year.

What Is An Intervention?

When you see that a friend or family member is struggling with addiction and is putting him/herself, along with other relatives or friends in danger, it’s time to organize an intervention. There are several elements to a successful intervention, and those who are participating should understand the steps that follow the event.

How to Prepare for the Intervention

Before scheduling the intervention, it’s best for the addict’s relatives to contact a local inpatient drug treatment facility to inform drug counselors about intervention plans. It’s best to have a professional present during the intervention to facilitate the conversation and help the addict take the process seriously.

The addict’s children, parents, close friends, and family members should be present at the intervention. However, it’s important not to have too many people there, as this can be overwhelming.

What Happens During the Intervention

Ask each person coming to the intervention to prepare a short speech letting the addict know the specific ways that his/her drug addiction is causing problems. For instance, children who are old enough to articulate themselves should attend the intervention and should let the addict know that his/her dependence on drugs or alcohol takes away from quality parent/child time. The child can state that he/she is hurt by the distant or angry way in which the parent behaves when under the influence of drugs.

It’s important for everyone coming to the intervention to be prepared for the addict to resist treatment. The individual may react in a hostile way after realizing that he/she is having an intervention and could very well become defensive or try to convince everyone that he/she doesn’t need help. Some addicts may even try to leave the intervention location, so there should be loved ones in place to man the doors and prevent this from happening.

Everyone should only speak for a minute or two, and the drug counselor should speak last. The professional should reiterate the fact that everyone at the intervention loves and cares for the addict, and only wants the best for him/her. The counselor should then offer the addict treatment at the inpatient facility and emphasize the fact that the addict should accept the offer right away. The goal is for the individual struggling with addiction to leave from the intervention and go straight to the rehabilitation center.

After the Intervention

After everyone at the intervention has spoken their piece, the drug counselor should let the addict know that should he/she refuse treatment; there will be consequences. For instance, a teen or young adult who is addicted to drugs should know that his/her parents will no longer provide financial support if the addict does not agree to go to rehab. Addicts who have children should understand that their kids will be removed from the home if the addict doesn’t consent to rehabilitation. Since the intervention is often the last resort when it comes to getting an individual the help he/she needs, it can not be stressed enough to the addict that an intervention should not be taken lightly, and could be the first step to a better way of life.

The addict then travels with the drug counselor to an inpatient treatment facility. In some cases, a family member accompanies the addict to the rehabilitation center as well.

The addict checks into rehab to begin the first phase of treatment, usually starting with detoxification, which is a process that involves the removal of harmful substances from the body. The addict will experience withdrawal symptoms and will likely have days of extreme irritation, rage, or sadness. Being in a facility that monitors the addict will ensure that he/she can manage these symptoms, even though the process will most likely be especially challenging.

Therapists are also available to speak with the addict about his/her motives for drug and alcohol use, along with healthy alternatives for dealing with stress and anxiety. Therapy can also help addicts to gain a sense of self-confidence, which makes it easier to identify drug use triggers both during treatment and after rehab has ended.

Once the addict agrees to treatment in an outpatient facility, it’s important to visit him/her often (if the facility allows this). Constant support is essential for the addict’s recovery. Seeing familiar faces and hearing encouraging words during the recovery process can help make sobriety permanent for the addict. A full recovery, of course, depends on the addict’s personality, as some individuals will do better in treatment only by receiving letters and phone calls from relatives and friends during treatment. Either way, it’s essential for those who are pulling for the addict’s recovery to create a loving and nurturing environment that the individual can return to after treatment.

Washington D.C. Drug Facts:

  • Crack/cocaine, heroin, and marijuana are the most significant drug problems in Washington, DC.
  • Marijuana is the most widely abused drug in D.C.
  • The drug-induced death rate in Washington, D.C., is higher than the national average.
  • C. has one of the highest binge-drinking percentages compared to the rest of the country.
  • The average age group for binge-drinkers is between the ages of 18-34 and 65+.
  • In the club/party scene, drugs such as MDMA, Ketamine, and other hallucinogenic drugs are abuse in higher quantities.

Why Choose Intervention Services USA for Drug or Alcohol Interventions?

Before we host an intervention on a loved one, our interventionists train and educate the family on addiction, aftercare, and create the most successful plan. We call this day “Family Day” to help unify and create a cohesive support system. This strategy has been shown to give families the highest long-term success rate and has made us the #1 intervention service provider in the country. To talk to one of our experienced intervention coordinators, give us a call.

Washington, D.C. Intervention

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