7 Ways To Convince Your Loved One To Go To Rehab

To convince your loved one to go to rehab, you can get advice from medical professionals, change how you support your loved one, and have a conversation about their substance abuse.

If you have a family member or loved one who struggles with addiction, they may not want to get help. Understanding their condition and their refusal to reach out can help you change your support and approach.

A drug or alcohol rehab program can be the first step in the treatment process. Your loved one should understand they have professionals and loved ones who will support them during their recovery.

1. Educate Yourself On The Treatment Process

Your loved one may refuse to go to rehab due to the stigma of addiction treatment. They may have had difficult experiences with alcohol or drug rehab in the past, or believe that rehab centers cannot help them.

Educating your loved one on the substance abuse treatment process can reduce the stigma around treatment and manage their expectations around recovery. To educate your loved one, you can first educate yourself.

You can talk to your healthcare provider or local addiction recovery board for information on the treatment process. You can also find free pamphlets online, which you can give to your loved one.

2. Get Help From A Medical Professional

Primary care providers, mental health professionals, and addiction treatment providers can give you advice and resources for connecting with your loved one.

You can schedule appointments for your loved one or visit your doctor on your own. Your doctor can refer you to addiction treatment centers that work for your loved one’s needs.

3. Have Consequences For Continued Substance Use

If you did not have consequences for your loved one’s substance use, they may believe you do not care, or that you are encouraging them.

You can tell your loved one you will not give them money for alcohol or drugs, or that you will punish them for taking alcohol or drugs in the house.

Though these consequences can be harsh, they can effectively show the financial and personal costs of a drug or alcohol addiction.

4. Do Not Enable Your Loved One

You may be enabling your loved one’s substance abuse problem without realizing it. Forms of enabling may include:

• giving your loved one money for alcohol or drugs
• lying for your loved one about their alcohol or drug use
• ignoring signs of substance use in your house, such as drug paraphernalia
• missing work or other activities to take care of an intoxicated loved one

These actions can hurt your relationship with your loved one and normalize substance abuse in your household.

Avoiding enabling behaviors can distance you from your loved one’s substance use. You can practice self-care while still supporting your loved one emotionally.

5. Talk To Your Loved One

Simply talking to your loved one can help you understand their condition.

You may find out their reasons for abusing alcohol or drugs, or why they have trouble quitting. They may struggle with physical dependency, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms, which can make quitting on their own difficult.

Instead of blaming your loved one or arguing with them, you can be the emotional support they need to get professional help.

6. Have An Intervention

If talking to your loved one does not work, you can plan and stage an intervention. An intervention can show your loved one how their substance use affects not only themselves, but also people close to them.

During an intervention, you can give examples of how their substance abuse hurt you, and warn of the health risks if they do not stop. Interventions should include next steps for reaching out for help.

Interventions about a loved one’s drug or alcohol abuse should be carefully planned. You should emphasize the need for professional help during and after an intervention.

7. Consider Involuntary Commitment To An Inpatient Rehab Program

Not all states have legalized involuntary commitment. For states where this form of treatment is legal, you can only commit a loved one to rehab when they cannot make decisions on their own.

After getting approval from a certified treatment provider, you can receive a court-ordered treatment plan. This plan may require your loved one to enter an inpatient rehab facility.

Involuntary commitment should only be a last resort for your loved one. Even if they are committed, they can choose to leave the treatment center. However, involuntary treatment programs can still be effective in some cases.

Professional Treatment Options For Alcohol & Drug Addiction

Getting a loved one into rehab can give them the medical care they need to manage their addiction. For an addiction treatment center that fits your loved one’s needs, contact us today.

Our substance use disorder treatment plans may include medical detox programs, withdrawal management, cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, and mental health treatment options.

We can also offer family therapy for families affected by substance abuse. Before committing to treatment, we can answer your questions about payment assistance and health insurance coverage.