How To Do An Intervention On A Colleague

Although this situation can occur in any kind of workplace, we will assume for the purposes of this blog that you are a health care professional in excellent Recovery confronting a colleague at work who is evidently suffering from active substance dependency/abuse.

Before the intervention:

• Make sure all the facts are available; the evidence should be compelling;
• Unfounded accusations are to be avoided;
• It is a good idea to have a third party present during the intervention.

During the intervention:

• Stick to the facts, what you have observed of your colleague’s behaviour;
• Be supportive but forceful: inform your colleague that you have a duty to report;
• Your duty to report is known as COERCIVE THERAPEUTIC LEVERAGE: your colleague is more likely to seek treatment if he/she realizes that you will be informing the higher-ups; unfortunately, this leverage is not always available in the general population;
• The intervention must be done competently and professionally, it must have direction, purpose and a goal (which is the initiation of your colleague’s treatment);
• Practice detached concern, don’t get codependent;
• Don’t give orders or commands (these are never helpful);
• Invoke the Disease Concept of addiction;
• You MAY speak from personal experience and share your personal history if it is appropriate and if it is safe for you to do so;
• You may provide peer support but with the clear understanding that you also have a duty to report;

After the intervention:

• Get hold of the appropriate authorities (such as Human Resources or Management);
• Document your reporting and the name of the person to whom you reported;
• Follow up to make sure action has been taken.

In conclusion:

• Your intervention consistently yields a far better long-term prognosis for the addicted health care professional than looking the other way does;
• When in good Recovery, the health professional can become a resource for others;
• Confrontation may be unsettling but it works;
• An intervention is an opportunity to face reality;
• Failure to confront is irresponsible, both in terms of patient care and in terms of the ultimate welfare of the addicted health care professional.