People will often start out experimenting in a social situation, such as college, where drinking and drugs are a common occurrence. Other people isolate themselves and self medicate emotional pain such as anxiety or depression with alcohol. Many experience physical pain from an injury and become addicted to prescription pills. An increase in tolerance causes the person to use more of the same substance in order to get the same effect. As their tolerance increases, they cross the line from social use to addiction.

Once the person becomes addicted they will be unable to stop because their obsession with drugs/alcohol is so significant and/or their withdrawal symptoms are too uncomfortable to stop. Actual withdrawal from alcohol or prescription drugs such as Valium can be life threatening. If people are not properly medically withdrawn from their drug of choice they may die during detoxification. When doing an intervention it is NOT recommended that the addict stop using drugs and/or alcohol until they can be monitored for withdrawal symptoms by the medical staff at a treatment center. There are medications that can be briefly used by the admitting medical staff to make sure that they have a safer withdrawal.

As a person becomes addicted, they will often experience serious personality changes, such as increasing depression, mood swings, aggression, isolation and a decline in their morals and values.  The impact that this has on their family and those close to them is profound.  To the degree that the person is addicted to the substance, the family members will in turn become obsessed with the addicts behaviors, and with trying to get them to stop.  The family member will often try harder at their efforts to control, rescue, or enable the addict.

The addict often makes and breaks promises to quit or cut down on their use.  Trust has been broken over and over again.  This environment is a breeding ground for chaos, increased tension, anger, blame, arguing, remorse and bitterness.  This in turn creates a vicious cycle where the addict uses even more heavily to cover up their remorse, anger and sense of failure.

An intervention can save the addicted person's life, their relationships and future.  When families choose to do an intervention they can help themselves and get the person they love the help that he or she so desperately needs.  Treatment centers offer a structured, supportive and therapeutic environment designed to help the alcoholic and/or addict to get the help that they need.  It is very important that the family members get their focus back onto their own life and also get the help that they need, through attending a Family Program at a Treatment Center such as Hazelden or The Hanley Center, and going to therapy and/or Al-Anon to help them recover from the negative effects of addiction.