Written by Lana M. Ackaway, LCSW-R, NCPsyA, CASAC

Click here to contact Lana and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

The chief issue with chemical dependency/addiction is that most often an addict believes he/she can use safely. I’ve never encountered a chemically dependent individual who thinks, feels, says or behaves otherwise. Some never give up on this idea—and as a result, there exists needless deaths—some mentally, some spiritually, and for others, real death. For many, “Intervention” is the only way to save a life. Interventions for substances (alcohol, other drugs and prescription medication) to families and others (employers, associates, friends, etc.) can help break denial with addiction.

The heart of addiction, of course, resonates with human psychological suffering. Human issues of experiencing emotion are in the extreme: feelings are overwhelming and unbearable, or they are absent and confusing. Addiction resonates in an inability to control one’s life. These individuals alternate between losing control of their behavior and substances and then, often at the same time, they exert multiple and varied attempts to gain and maintain control . Drugs (including alcohol) are compelling because they initially work, but ultimately due to physical tolerance and evolving diminished psychological capacities, the attempts at self-correction fail. Suicide often becomes a fatal alternative.

Addicts get help not because they see the light, but because they feel the heat. Something comes along—a crisis/a change that jolts an addict. It then becomes an urgent reaction to accept help rather than continue with the drug(s). This “something” is an Intervention. Most intervention is a jumble of personal tragedy for the alcoholic/addict and the family. Examples include financial ruin, divorce, incarceration, child abuse/neglect, cirrhosis, mental breakdown and ultimately death. In mental health, we commit someone who is harmful to self or other. Why are many employers, significant others, and professionals not aware of his/her collusion with the addicted person? What is the resistance among loved ones and many professionals to know more about addiction? Why not help raise a “bottom” for a chemically dependent individual? Suicide often becomes a fatal alternative.

Facts:

• One of every eight Americans has a significant problem with alcohol/drugs, with 40% having a ‘dual diagnosis’, or concurrent mental health/anxiety issue.

• Approximately 27 million Americans either use illicit drugs regularly or are “heavy drinkers.
Of these, almost 16 million are estimated to need immediate treatment.

• By age 18, almost 12% of all young people are illicit drug users.

• An untreated alcoholic’s medical costs are approximately 300% higher than non-alcoholic’s medical costs.

• Approximately 70% of illegal drug users re employed and contribute significantly to workplace absenteeism, accidents and injuries, decreased productivity, increased insurance expenses, employee turnover costs and on-the-job violence.

• The estimated annual direct cost to our society resulting from substance abuse is more than 250 billion dollars.

• It is generally accepted that chemical dependency, along with associated mental health issues, has become one of the severe health and social problems facing the U.S.(Source: SAMHSA–U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.)

Solution:

Despite the dire statistics and the failure of “the war on drugs,” there is reason for hope and optimism. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of treatment. Chemically dependent people who participate in treatment decrease their alcohol and drug use, decrease their criminal activity, obtain and maintain employment, improve their social and interpersonal functioning and improve their physical health.

My “Intervention” territory in the main has been the Eastern Seaboard. I also contract with trained Interventionists across the United States. Many families have brought challenges of dually diagnosed husbands, wives, significant other(s), friend(s), etc. from various socio-economic levels, ethnicities and walks of life, e.g., physicians, attorneys to blue collar workers. I have been involved in assessment, Intervention and counseling/psychotherapy for nearly a quarter of a century. I also provide aftercare services and education and private training to mental health professionals in the evaluation and treatment of addictions, to include usual intense affects in countertransference.

For the last 23+ years I have creatively intervened in assisting families and employers help their loved one/employee get help for addiction. My Interventions are expertly framed and timed. I am adept at helping significant other(s) find a space with care and genuine empathy—without demonstrated behavioral judgment and annoyance–talk to the afflicted person. This space is called “Intervention.” It is not blaming or confronting. It is not scolding or shaming. It is conducted with much genuine respect—for the family, employer, and addict. My style has an 85% success rate. Through the Intervention, the chemically dependent individual may have an opportunity to help himself. Regardless of outcome, the family member, employer, other(s) who enlist my services will have an opportunity to no longer collude.

My Interventions are based on sound psychoanalytic, educational and spiritual principles that have been a part of me for many years. Intervention(s) for my clients are not always emotional acceptance or even a “readiness.” However, they have had first steps in a process of “recovery” that raises a chemically dependent individual’s bottom so that accurate assessment and treatment may begin.

Those with little or no mental health training and experience by and large perform “interventions.” Family members, friends, etc. can and often do collude with Interventions. Many do not know how to help themselves and/or the chemically dependent person. Many mental health clinicians have little or no informed/”accurate” addiction knowledge, training and experience. They try earnestly to intervene with a chemically dependent person and are frequently unsuccessful.

I am a Certified lay Psychoanalyst with comprehensive and extensive addiction experience. I am a NYS CASAC and licensed Clinical Social Worker. I interned and intervened for many years in the addiction field and have been in personal recovery for two-thirds of my life. Two very qualified psychoanalysts missed my addiction! One didn’t believe in abstinence. The other thought if I resolved significant issues, I would not need/want to drink. How silly! I am an addict. I taught both of them as I attained sobriety.

©Copyright 2007 Lana M. Ackaway, LCSW-R, NCPsyA, CASAC All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish granted to GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment to this blog entry. The article was solely written and edited by the author named above. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Click here to contact Lana and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile