ABSTRACT
Each family addiction intervention is unique. However, what is common to the process is the ingrained defense mechanism of denial. To get a person to accept addiction treatment, clinicians must identify internal motivation for change and build on individual readiness factors. In this way, every intervention must start from where clients are, not from where methodologies claim are best.
To help facilitate this process, this chapter provides key demographic factors for specific populations, including common characteristics of each group, signs of a problem, common objections to treatment, counter-objections, barriers to treatment, and special considerations by group. Groups examined include adolescents, “failure to launch,” middle-aged, aged 65+, men, women, young women, pregnant women, women with children, women in prison, LGBTQ, chronic pain, professionals, high wealth, and celebrities and other high-profile folks. Knowing the common objections to treatment and their counters can help behavioral healthcare professionals move clients from a “no” to a “yes” with more ease.
