If I intervene with my brother's drug addiction, does it mean that he's going to recover soon?

Question

My big brother is addicted to cocaine. I've read some stuff about it and I think it's time to intervene with his addiction. I just want to know if the results of intervention are always the same. I mean, if I perform an intervention, will he be okay right away?

Answer 1

Recovery from addiction takes time. Intervening with your brother's problems doesn't guarantee the expected results right away. You must be patient enough to let him heal in his own way. Don't force him to recover faster. The right thing to do is to keep on praying and keep on believing that he will get better eventually. If you want, you can ask professional counselors or other family members to help you with the intervention.

Answer 2

Not if he doesn't want help. The primary requirement is that the addict has to know he/she needs and wants help. If your family can afford a treatment center and can coordinate a real intervention with their help, you might get him going in the right direction.

Addicts don't get better "right away". Your brother became an addict over a long period of time, and he will need a a long period of time to be "okay". There is deep seated pain he is trying to escape by using cocaine, and he will need to get in touch with that and find some healing. 12-step programs work for some people. He will always be at risk for drugs, and other addictive substances/behaviors that might take the place of the cocaine.

If you can't afford a treatment center, and you think your brother is a serious danger to you, others in your family, or himself, you can call EMS or the police. He might be admitted to a hospital temporarily, and it might get him going in the right direction.

You and you family members can also go to special al-anon meetings for people who are dealing with addicts in their families. These are different meetings than the ones the addicts go to. They can help you put things into perspective for yourself, and your brother might start to get the message that he needs help. Say the serenity prayer when you're worried about your brother: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." You can't save your brother - no one can except him and a higher power. But you can save your own sanity. Good luck!

Answer 3

All I can think of is that old 1960s song by Loretta Lynn - Don't come home a-drinkin' with lovin' on your mind. BQ - I work with a man in his 50s who has become painfully addicted to Internet porn. He's in that phase where he hates what he does but that compulsion to act out is overpowering. He's married and has a sweet, respectable relationship with his wife....a very fine woman...but they've drifted apart. He feels like they're brother and sister instead of a husband and wife. The shame and confusion became too much for him until the fateful Saturday afternoon I took him fishing and he completely opened up. "How can I break a forty-five-years-old habit?" Addiction can quickly become a painfully lonely aspect in a person's life. The addiction makes them feel as if no one understands their struggle. It can even lead its victim to despair and pitch him over the edge.

Answer 4

Intervention is good and is a start. But recovery is all up to him. The addict needs to want to do it for himself. He does need the support of hs family. Good luck

Answer 5

it means that you care and can take comfort and either save his life or be comforted that you did something, even if it doesn't work out.

the tragedy here is that you can't love him out of this, he has to want it. hopefully you or someone else can say or do something to trigger his own self realization. good luck.

make sure u have backup when you intervene. drug addicts can be very dangerous when they feel their 'friend' is being taken away. don't expect it 2 b easy.

Answer 6

no sorry but your brother will never be the same as he was before using drugs,it have changed his mental mind and his brain has been reprogrammed from using drugs,but if he really wants to stop using he can slowly over time learn to reprogram his brain and thinking but it will take time and alot of hard work for you brother to not feel the desire or want and need for drugs,just be there for him during and after recovery,maybe you can go to meeting and groups like alon to learn how you can help your brother stay clean.be strong

Answer 7

it really does depend on the person. i think you should try to help but no matter what the changes probably wont be immediate. if you try and help he will have a much better chance of getting better. unfortunately not everyone does, it depends on if that person really wants to kick the habit. recovery does take a long time usually. but it is so worth it to try and help him. because things can only get better.

Answer 8

you can pray you can talk but if he's not looking to change and stop the use of that drug than he will keep using!!! also once you start some drugs you burn out cells and you could be talking to the wall and it would be like talking to him in one ear out the other any who a good talkingmight work but you have towatch him too

Answer 9

You can try but sometimes the addicts can't stop on their own and need to seek professional help. Call your local Narcotics Anonymous and see if they can help you in anyway. Good luck.

Answer 10

I am so sad to hear about your brother's problem. No one can guarantee that he will "recover" immediately. It really depends. I hope that he does find help... and my advice is that you do something. Talk to your parents or someone. It won't be easy.