Despite his addictions to crystal meth and gin martinis, Brad Lamm managed to sustain a career, first as a television weatherman, then as a nightclub owner. He didn't seek help for his substance abuse problem until his business partner told him their working relationship was done unless he sought treatment.

Though he didn’t know it at the time, Lamm had just participated in a type of intervention called ARISE (A Relational Intervention Sequence for Engagement).

Contrary to the medical model of pathology, [psychiatrist Dr. Judith] Landau’s method assumes that families and communities are inherently competent and have the capacity to heal and looks for strengths within those relationships. An "intervention recovery network" within the family functions like a board of directors, a system of checks and balances so that the addict cannot manipulate people one-on-one. (Source: The Denver Post)

Lamm is writing a book about his experiences, titled "How to Change Someone You Love." In his book, he argues against the conventional belief that friends and family members are powerless to help a loved one who has an addiction. He should know. He’s living proof.

Labels: drug_abuse, families, friends, interventions