Intervention - Disease Model of Addiction
Continued from Intervention-Helping Alcoholic/Addict part 1
THE DISEASE MODEL:
• It is a PRIMARY disease. The addiction must be treated first before any other problem can be successfully managed.
• It is a CHRONIC illness. Chemical dependency cannot be cured. It can be successfully arrested or put in remission, but never eliminated. Abstinence will dictate wellness.
• It is a PROGRESSIVE disease. This condition will worsen over time.
• It is a FATAL disease. It is directly or indirectly related to mortality.
• It is a TREAT ABLE illness. Remission can be achieved through a spiritual way of living and recovery activities that must be incorporated into ones life.
• It is characterized by DENIAL. (I Didn't Even Notice I Always Lied)
Denial is the psychological process that serves to keep the chemically dependent person out of touch with reality. Denial is caused by numerous factors, which act synergistically, including distortions of memory such as blackouts and euphoric recall, psychological defense mechanisms such as repression and projection, and social factors such as enabling by family and friends. It is common for the chemically dependent person to believe that they do not have a problem with alcohol or drugs despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Family and friends become increasingly frustrated when they are unable to convince the person that they have a serious problem. However, the person's memory and perception of reality have become distorted. Insidiously, the same disease process that is causing so much damage in the person's life is also preventing the person from fully recognizing it. Often the addicted person refuses treatment that would arrest the disease.
• TREATMENT: This process of education allows the sick person to understand that damage that they are doing to themselves and others. By educating themselves, the shame and the stigma is reduced to the point where they can hopefully embrace recovery and make the changes that they need to make, starting with abstinence from all mind-mood altering substances.
I DIDN'T CAUSE IT, I CAN'T CONTROL IT, I CAN'T CURE IT, BUT I CAN
COPE WITH IT.
GOALS: The primary goal of any intervention is to motivate the person to seek immediate treatment. There are many reasons for attempting the intervention even if the person doesn't engage in treatment.
o The enabling system is destroyed as the addict may find it difficult continuing without the chief enablers.
o Family and friends receive a valuable education so that they can better deal with addiction in the future.
o Participants are exposed to the resources available. www.serenityranch.ca
o The conspiracy of silence is broken. Secrets are exposed.
o Family and friends are exposed to various support groups (A.A., N.A. Al-Anon, Nar-Anon etc) They can learn about addiction and the recovery process.
o Contingency plans are generated. The addicted person may want to try it their way (outpatient) however if a relapse occurs then consequences are invoked.(treatment)
"Intervention is not a "confrontation" but a well organized expression of genuine concern for a person that is sick with a chronic illness."
