About an Adolescent Intervention

An Adolescent Intervention is different from that of an intervention performed on someone who is a legal adult for several different reasons. Although a minor technically can be mandated to a treatment facility, an intervention is ideally not to be an ultimatum. Even in the case of an adolescent intervention do we seek to increase the willingness of the substance abuser. Forcing someone into treatment usually decreases the effectiveness of the treatment.

First of all, an intervention on an adolescent is often difficult because the substance abuser is usually at the initial stage of their addictions. The initial stage is one of "seeking pleasure" and, as such, the substance abuse is probably still quite fun for them. The negative consequences, although possibly present, aren’t enough for the adolescent to actually begin to feel them. He or she is usually living at home rent free, without a job or need for one, with all the amenities magically provided for them. If the adolescent spends or steals all of his money that week, the lights are still on and the house payment is still paid. The reality of consequences hasn’t set in. For this reason an intervention on a teen or adolescent cannot be one where the primary focus is on their immediate "negative consequences" because that concept isn’t real for them. In other words, there really aren’t any negative aspects to their addictions, and there are a great many positives in their mind.

Secondly, an adolescent or teen intervention often cannot fully implement tough love or bottom lines to the degree upon which removing them from the home is necessary. Legal issues complicate the situation, as one cannot simply "ask the 13 year old to leave the premises" to experience the consequences of their lifestyle choice. Even if it were legal, it would seldom be advisable to expel the child from the home in such a way.

Finally, an adolescent intervention can often be an opportunity for a rebelious teen, who is trying to manifest his independence, to demonstrate that he "doesn’t have to listen to anyone". In other words, an intervention may become a power struggle, with the teen holding most of emotional cards.

Connecting at an Adolescent Intervention

When conducting an adolescent intervention, the one of the priorities with the interventionist is to establish a connection with the teen that might be impossible for any particular family member. The interventionists we employ are all recovering addicts and alcoholics themselves and have usually been in the exact same situation as the adolescent who is abusing drugs or alcohol. Having been where the teen has been often opens the door and allows the adolescent to reflect upon his life, his conduct and his decisions in a way that was previously impossible.

Adolescent Intervention
Teen Intervention
Intervention on Teen
Intervention Adolescent