Sometimes, the intervention comes as a total surprise to the alcoholic, but new techniques have been developed in which the members of the intervention team tell the alcoholic that they are talking with a professional about his drinking/substance abuse problem several days prior to the actual intervention. With the newer invitational model, the addict realizes that the most important people in his life are meeting about his problem, and when he is finally invited to the discussion, he does not feel as "ambushed" as with the earlier intervention techniques.
Why is it necessary to conduct an intervention? Because nothing else has worked. Most people attempt to change a person or situation through reason and discussion, usually one-on-one. When this fails, frustration may lead to anger. This can go on for years. Appeals to reason and one-on-one discussions rarely produce change in someone engaged in self-destructive behaviors. On the other hand, an intervention that includes several people meaningful to the person, that is executed in a controlled and logical way, that focuses on changing everyone's behavior at least for the moment, is highly effective.
