Whether it’s a loved one, a friend or just an acquaintance – whoever he or she is to you, if you knew them before they became addicted to drugs or alcohol, you will want to help. However, how do you send someone to a rehab center if any conversations on the subject are suppressed and you simply don’t want to be listened to? In this article, we provide valuable tips to help convince others to get on the path to sobriety and recovery.
If you can’t decide on a rehab, we suggest considering New Breath Recovery. This is a cozy treatment center in a quiet town in California. Here you will find understanding, expert medical care, and a high level of comfort that promotes effective recreation and quick recovery.
Recognizing the Signs That Rehab is Needed
Before you try to convince your loved one to go to rehab, you need to be 100% sure that there is a substance dependency. At the same time, you need to be emotionally prepared for the fact that even if you show the alcoholic or drug addict a list of signs of addiction and emphasize the coincidences with his or her situation, he or she will deny everything at first. This is a defense reflex and you will have to find a way to overcome it. But more on that in a bit.
Familiarize yourself with the list of signs that a person has an addiction to psychoactive substances such as alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications:
- The person uses substances every day for an extended period of time, such as drugs or alcohol for a week, and medications for longer than prescribed by a doctor.
- The dose is increased over time to achieve the same effect.
- The person’s focus is shifted to the substances that have become the most important part of their life.
- There are problems with school or work caused by the substances.
- Drugs or alcohol are used despite serious health consequences and the opinions of others.
- A withdrawal syndrome develops when attempting to withdraw from substances.
Any of these signs should alert and motivate you to take active action. Just think, there are about 29 million people in the U.S. with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) according to the NIAAA. That means that nearly one in ten residents has a drinking problem. The drug situation is even scarier, with 108,000 overdose deaths reported in 2022 alone, according to the CDC.
It’s within your power to do everything you can to send someone with an addiction to rehab. The sooner you do this, the less harm the addict will do to themselves and others.
Preparing for the Conversation
There is a lot of work that needs to be done before you can start talking about the need for treatment. You will have to become, if not an expert, then a fairly informed person in the field of addiction treatment. We recommend that you start by reading our blog about the different forms of addiction and then find answers to the following questions:
- Which rehab to choose?
- How is the process of admission to a rehab center and subsequent treatment?
- What are the conditions in the treatment center?
- How long does rehab last?
- How much will the treatment cost and how is payment made?
If you still have questions, you can always contact us through the contacts on the website.
This is basic information to understand roughly how rehab centers work. You can also attend group sessions of relatives of people suffering from alcohol or drug addiction to find the necessary support and get valuable advice.
Now we come to the main question: How to get someone into rehab?
How to Talk to Someone About Rehab
For an important conversation, it is necessary to choose the right time and environment. It does not need to be done in a hurry.
Key points in the conversation that are recommended to keep in mind:
- Be supportive rather than accusatory.
- Use a strategy with “self-statements.” For example, instead of phrases like “you drink too much,” say “I’m concerned about your health and want to help.”
- Listen more, don’t interrupt, and show understanding.
- Be prepared that nothing will work the first time.
When talking, it is worth thinking in advance about what you will say in response to the addicted person’s fears and objections.
Examples:
- “I’m doing fine on my own!” Explain that this is an illness and medical help is needed.
- “Rehab is a waste of money.” Show testimonials from other people who have gotten their lives back to normal.
- “I can’t go to rehab for a month, I have a job.” Talk about different approaches to treatment, including outpatient rehab programs.
- “Everyone will know I’m an addict.” Explain that wanting to make things right is not shameful, but deserves respect.
In conversation, you will have to prove the benefits of treatment. This seems obvious to sober people, but addicts have a slightly distorted view of rehab centers. Talk about the evidence-based methods of medicine that are used, about the combination of psychological help and medication. Refer to reputable sources.
Intervention Strategies
After the first attempts, you will already have a rough idea of how to proceed. Gradually, the impact should be strengthened by involving other people who have influence on the addicted person. By acting as a team in a soft power format, you can lead the patient from denial, aggression, depression to acceptance.
Who can be involved in the intervention? First and foremost, family and friends. It is also appropriate to use the services of professionals with relevant experience: psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers. Sometimes the participation of work colleagues or teachers in the process is a good result.
A person’s agreement to consult a specialist with a specific date when it will be done can be considered a success.
Finding the Right Rehab Program
At New Breath Recovery, we offer inpatient rehab programs with a 24-hour stay in a treatment center. This approach is effective in all cases, but it is especially important in the treatment of moderate to severe addiction. Partial hospitalization, which is appropriate for mild forms of the disease, is also possible.
After examination and diagnosis, the doctor draws up a treatment plan. Usually it includes medical detoxification and subsequent therapies: individual, group, family.
It should be noted that rehabilitation does not always involve inpatient treatment or partial hospitalization. If the addiction is weak, it is possible to do with outpatient rehabilitation programs. In any case, each case is unique and should be considered separately.
Supporting a Loved One During and After Rehab
Supporting your loved one during and after rehab plays a key role in their recovery. It is important to help him or her adjust to the new environment and stay committed to recovery by creating a safe and understanding environment.
Even after rehab is complete, it is important to continue to provide support by showing that he or she is not alone. In doing so, it is important to set healthy boundaries to avoid behaviors that may contribute to addiction.
Participating in therapeutic programs or support groups can help solidify results and prevent breakdowns.
Conclusion
Now you know about how to commit someone to rehab. Your efforts will sooner or later be rewarded with success. Do not be afraid of difficulties, because doing nothing is impossible to get results. It may sound high-minded, but it is in your power to save a life. And it does not matter whether it is a close person, a friend or just an acquaintance.