How to Get Someone Into Rehab

How to Get Someone Into Rehab Who Doesn’t Want to Go

Watching a family member or another loved one struggle with drug or alcohol addiction is very difficult. It can be especially challenging when you want them to seek help, but they don’t.

If you are watching a loved one struggle with addiction, you’re not alone. In the United States, over 23 million people are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and only 11 percent of people with an addiction receive treatment.

Helping a loved one get into rehab or a treatment program can be broken down into a few steps that can reduce stress and make the ordeal easier, more organized, and more effective.

Once you’ve successfully determined that your loved one has an addiction problem and have approached them about entering rehab, you should select the best treatment option and make plans to get them into treatment.

From there, you can explore staging an intervention as a method of getting them into treatment. If you plan to perform an intervention, you should first seek professional help from a professional interventionist to ensure everything goes smoothly.

If you are still struggling with getting your loved one into treatment, you can explore involuntary commitment, which is a way to force someone to enter treatment.

What States Allow Involuntary Commitment?

Involuntary commitment in the United States is a way to force someone to go to rehab through a court order from a judge. This legal intervention requires an adult person with a severe mental health or substance use disorder to be committed to a hospital or receive supervised outpatient treatment.

An involuntary commitment may be the right option when the person suffering from a substance use disorder poses a danger to others or themselves. 

Thirty-seven states in the United States and the District of Columbia allow involuntary commitment for individuals suffering from a substance use disorder. Each state has its commitment procedures and legal requirements. Before involuntarily committing someone, you should research to understand if your state allows it and make sure you know the required laws and processes.

Suppose the addicted person is a child under 18. In that case, their legal parent or guardian can send them to rehab without their approval and without having to go through a lengthy legal process. Even if they refuse to get into the car, the parent may physically carry them to treatment or hire a transport service to bring them to therapy.

Once you understand whether or not involuntary commitment will be an option for your loved one, you should explore effective addiction treatment options to determine the right treatment for them.

Effective Addiction Treatment Options

The best type of treatment for substance use depends on the individual’s specific needs and the severity of their addiction:

Inpatient Treatment

During inpatient treatment, the person with the substance use disorder will live full-time at a rehab facility. They will have the support of trained medical professionals available 24/7, who will help them through detox, withdrawal, and recovery. They will attend structured programming designed to help them break negative habits and reinforce good habits. The average inpatient treatment program stay ranges from a few weeks to several months.

Medical Detox

Medical detoxification provides a safe environment for an individual to undergo withdrawal from drugs or alcohol while under medical supervision.

Medical detox in a treatment facility under medical supervision makes the detox process safer and easier to get through than if done independently.

Detox can occur at an emergency room, in a partial hospitalization program, or during inpatient treatment.

While a supervised detoxification program may prevent potentially life-threatening complications that might appear if the patient was left untreated, it is not designed to resolve the long-standing psychological, social, and behavioral problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse. However, it may provide a point of the first contact with the treatment system and the first step to recovery for some patients.

Outpatient Treatment 

Outpatient treatment is a form of alcohol or drug rehabilitation in which patients visit a rehab center, clinic, or therapist regularly during the week and are allowed to live at home while receiving treatment. Outpatient programs are most suitable for individuals who do not require detoxification and round-the-clock supervision.

Partial Hospitalization

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a form of outpatient drug or alcohol rehabilitation in which the patient lives at home and commutes to a hospital several times a week. These programs typically require more of a time commitment than an outpatient program and are often considered as an alternative to inpatient substance abuse treatment.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a support group for adults with alcoholism or seeking to control their alcohol use. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. AA can provide a sound support system for anyone struggling with alcohol abuse, but individuals with more severe addictions should also seek professional help.

For individuals struggling with drug use rather than alcohol abuse, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an alternative program structured similarly to AA but focused on drug addiction.

Relapse Prevention (After Treatment)

Relapse prevention is a part of aftercare during the recovery process of alcohol or drug addiction. Relapse prevention seeks to prevent individuals from using again while in their recovery process after treatment. The treatment goal is to help individuals recognize the early warning signs of relapse and develop coping skills.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Several medications are used to treat alcohol and drug dependence (known as medication-assisted treatment). These medications can help with withdrawal symptoms and maintaining abstinence. They are only available with a prescription. The type of medicine used depends on clinical judgment and patient preference.

Family Therapy

Many consider alcohol or drug addiction to be a “family disease,” influenced by family trauma or behavior and communication patterns. Family therapy can be an effective way to address the underlying causes of alcohol or drug addiction and prevent the disease from progressing. 

Addiction Treatment Costs & How to Pay for Treatment

Many treatment centers offer financial assistance, like sliding scale payment plans, and financing options.

Those who cannot pay for outpatient treatment may find drug rehab programs through various federal or state-funded agencies and nonprofit organizations. Program eligibility requirements vary but usually include verifying income, lack of insurance, and residence in the state.

Many faith-based organizations also offer free addiction treatment programs to members of the community that need assistance.

Other Questions About Treatment?

To get help with getting a loved one into drug or alcohol addiction treatment, reach out to an addiction specialist today.