Growing Need for Alcohol Intervention Explained
Alcohol abuse is an on-going issue in the United States, and the problem impacts millions of Americans. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among people aged 12 or older, 50.8% or 139.7 million Americans had consumed alcohol in the past month. Moreover, approximately 65.8 million were past month binge drinkers, and 16 million were considered heavy drinkers. The percentage of drinkers in 2019 was similar to the percentages from 2002 to 2004 and from 2015 to 2018.
Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, there have been significant changes in drinking patterns among Americans. According to the American Medical Association, when stay at home orders began in the country, there was a 54% increase in national sales of alcohol. The article noted that the World Health Organization warned that alcohol use during the pandemic might exacerbate health concerns and risk-taking behaviors. The survey results indicated, on average, alcohol was consumed one day more per month by three out of four adults.
Increasing Alcohol Consumption Leads to More People Struggling with Addiction
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on mental health and the use of addictive substances across the globe. Throughout the entirety of 2020, people struggled with job loss, excessive government intervention, loneliness and isolation, and deaths of loved ones due to COVID. When facing significant stress and grief, alcohol becomes a solution to cope. Unfortunately, using alcohol like this leads to addiction and even dependence. Alcohol addiction is a devastating problem, and most alcoholics do not attempt to get help during the early and even late stages of addiction.
According to the Rand Corporation, a national survey found that the overall frequency of alcohol consumption increased by 14% among adults over age 30, compared to the same time last year. Alcohol consumption has significant negative consequences, and increased alcohol consumption leads to severe health complications. Someone struggling with alcohol addiction requires treatment, and typically intervention is the best way to get them to understand the importance of rehabilitation.
Alcohol Intervention and Not Waiting Until It is Too Late
Alcohol intervention works, and hiring a professional interventionist is the best way to plan and organize a family intervention. However, there are common misconceptions that an alcoholic has to hit rock bottom or be willing to accept treatment for an intervention to work. These are myths and are common reasons why families never take steps to organize an intervention.
The purpose of an alcohol intervention is to convince the person struggling with addiction they need treatment. A professional interventionist spends a significant amount of time working with the family and preparing them for the intervention. Families often struggle with enabling and co-dependency, making it difficult to convince an alcoholic they need help.
Additionally, alcohol intervention brings the family closer together and helps them begin the healing process while the loved one is in treatment. When alcoholism is left untreated, the problem becomes progressively worse. Alcohol intervention and hiring a professional interventionist is the best solution.
About Newman Intervention Services
In 2016, the author founded Newman Intervention Services to help families in crisis manage their addicted loved ones’ arrivals to drug rehabilitation. He currently travels all over the United States and internationally to end the conflict, trauma and loss that accompanies addiction to drugs or alcohol. Before founding Newman Intervention Services, Newman spent 15 years working in addiction recovery and prevention, educating more than 135,000 people on the life-threatening danger of drug or alcohol use.
