How to Get Someone into Rehab: A Beginners Guide

If you are wondering how to get someone into rehab, Oasis Recovery is here to help. Watching your loved one suffer from drug or alcohol addiction is agonizing. You hate to see their habit consume their life. And it hurts even more when they don’t want to get help because they don’t realize the damage they are causing to themselves and others. A question we get a lot from friends and family members is: ‘how do you get someone into an alcohol or drug treatment program when they don’t want to go themselves?’ Here are some tips on how to make the process as simple and effective as possible. 

How to Get Someone Into Rehab

1. Recognize the Signs of Addiction

First, it is important to recognize common indicators of substance abuse and addiction. Since the signs they display will vary depending on their level of addiction and the substances they choose to consume, the exact symptoms they demonstrate will vary. 

The person suffering from alcoholism may come home smelling of alcohol, but a person abusing other drugs may not demonstrate that particular sign. A person abusing other drugs may not demonstrate any outward signs, but they could exhibit uncharacteristic hyperactivity or the ability to go for long periods without sleep. Unless you see the needle marks on their arms, you might not be able to tell if your loved one is abusing heroin. Universal signs that an addiction may have developed include: 

• Neglecting responsibilities
• Poor hygiene
• Borrowing or stealing money or valuable goods 
• Self-isolation
• Being secretive
• Mood changes

You won’t have to look hard to find signs of substance abuse, but you might need to look closer. If you see these signs, get your loved one to rehab as quickly as possible. Substance use can disrupt your family’s life and may even lead to job loss or failure at school. There’s no point waiting until your loved one displays dangerous, violent, or life-threatening behavior, such as driving drunk.

2. Talk to Them About Going to Rehab

If it is clear that your loved one is struggling with addiction and you have recognized the signs, it’s time to have a conversation with them about seeking treatment. It is important to enter this conversation being nonjudgmental and open to discussion. Blaming someone for their addiction or imposing guilt only makes things worse. It creates shame in that person, which could send them back to using.

There are also many individuals who still debate whether addiction is a disease or not. Although there are certainly contributing factors to addiction, it’s not as straightforward as some individuals may believe. People might have several reasons why they don’t want to go to rehab, including losing their job or informing their kids. Don’t enter the discussion with judgment. They should know it’s okay to talk. 

Make sure they know that you care about them a lot. Maintain a gentle tone of voice and avoid saying or doing anything that might cast doubt. Overcommunicate your love for them. If they think you are angry or on the attack, they might feel insulted or mistreated. You can tell them how much you dislike what their addiction has done to them without making them feel disliked. Your concern is genuine, but it’s hard to recognize from the haze of addiction. Helping an addict can be a tricky venture. 

Drug rehabilitation can work only if it is their decision. We’ve all seen sitcom scenes where you lure our beloved one into a car, hoping to go shopping or eat, only to check them into rehab, kick, and scream in frustration. In reality, it is both unrealistic and dangerous. No one wants to be told what to do. Even a non-addict may become defiant, defensive, and resentful. However, when it comes to substance abuse, those feelings of resentment can severely harm the process. In fact, mandatory rehabilitation may not be successful in the long term.

3. Make a Plan if They are Unwilling to go to Rehab

So, you know that your loved one needs to stop abusing drugs or alcohol and you have confronted him or her about it. When someone refuses treatment or even acknowledges the issue, it is devastating to everyone who wants to help. However, remember, although addiction is a terrible illness, no one is beyond recovery. Here is what you can do: 

• Set Consequences – When a loved one with an addiction refuses treatment, you must set consequences. This may involve taking away internet access or removing drugs or alcohol from the house. More severe measures, such as separating, contacting authorities, and restricting visitation rights, may be required. The consequences you set should be effective for each individual. Your loved one must recognize that substance abuse has consequences that go beyond the immediate. A person refusing treatment must be motivated to reconsider and eventually enter treatment. You must maintain any boundaries you set. 

• Quit Enabling – Supporting an addiction, even if not directly, is enabling. Are you subsidizing their drug or alcohol consumption by providing them with cheap housing? Are you providing them with a “loan” or groceries? Are you covering up the addiction? Are you lying about the reason your loved one can’t attend events? Are you doing their school, house, or professional work? It is critical that you cease providing drugs or alcohol. Without your help, addicts can see the consequences of drug or alcohol abuse and have to work harder to remain hooked. By quitting enabling, they can see how much influence their habits have on their actions and their lives. 

• Prepare to Cut Ties (temporarily or permanently)- Addiction is an intense disease that affects the emotional part of the brain, and setting boundaries and cutting off all assistance is something addicts do not want to hear. After they refuse care, most addicts will attempt to use loved ones to maintain their support. This might include false promises, intimidation, emotional appeals, false compassion, and various other techniques. It is very hard to withstand these pleas, but you should not cave in to them. A person addicted to drugs must seek treatment on their own. 

• Take Care of Yourself – You can get help for yourself even if your loved one refuses treatment for addiction. It is not easy to live with addiction, even if you are not the one abusing drugs or alcohol, but you are not alone. Al-Anon and Narc-Anon are 12 Step programs that are designed for people with addicted family members. You may locate a support group in conjunction with these programs. A quick online search can help you find one near you. Besides group support, consider family or individual therapy. By knowing more about addiction and abuse, you may be able to help yourself and your loved one more effectively. 

Steps to Get Into Rehab 

When a loved one has decided to seek treatment for an addiction, they should now begin to consider the steps they’ll need to take to ensure that their stay is as smooth as possible. Many people entering rehab for the first time don’t know what to expect, and they are concerned about interrupting their work, paying their bills, or caring for their families in spite of their addiction. It is natural to be anxious about this new process, and by taking some time beforehand to prepare for rehabilitation, they will be ready to begin. The following are steps of entering rehab: 

1. Contact the facility-When you phone an addiction treatment facility, you will connect with an admissions representative who will ask you a series of questions to determine whether you are a good candidate for treatment. During this private telephone conversation, you will be asked to provide your name, date of birth, address, and job information. You will also discuss your substance addiction history, including your drug of choice, the length of time you were addicted, and how you began abusing drugs. The admissions representative will also ask you about your mental health history, whether you have any co-existing disorders, and whether you are experiencing interpersonal or financial difficulties.  

2. Discuss Insurance and cost- Addiction treatment can be expensive, making the expense of rehab a central issue in a person’s decision to seek help. Insurance is increasingly commonplace as a result of the Affordable Care Act, which makes it more accessible to receive treatment. Under the Affordable Care Act, professional addiction treatment is one of the ten critical services that a health insurance plan must cover. Many inpatient rehab facilities accept insurance, which makes it more accessible to receive treatment. Your insurance provider and admissions coordinator will assist you in determining what services are covered by insurance and how much you will have to pay out of pocket. 

3. Consider the best location – Sometimes, individuals seek substance abuse treatment near home, but others may need to journey to a different county or state to find the right setting. There are various reasons why you might prefer an out-of-state treatment program. For example, individuals who seek substance abuse treatment can be more willing to distance themselves from damaging relationships and environments that might lead to relapse if they are out of state. Before making your final decision, make sure you take into account your budget. If you can’t afford the price of long-distance travel, you may prefer to go to a nearby rehab. 

4. Arrive at the treatment facility – Upon agreeing to treatment and getting to the facility, you’ll go through a thorough intake process. During this process, a variety of lengthy medical and mental health evaluations will be conducted to develop a personalized treatment plan and get you sober. To make the transition to rehab less stressful, you must know what to expect. If the process is handled properly, admission to rehab should be easy and seamless. To avoid delays, contact as soon as possible after a phone conversation, screening, and admission. The longer a person delays between the first phone call, screening, and admission, the less likely it is they will follow through with treatment. 

Oasis Recovery Center Can Help You Get Started

If you have been researching how to get someone into rehab, or are struggling with addiction and wondering how to get into rehab for yourself, Oasis Recovery is ready to help. Anyone can be affected by addiction. We encourage you to contact the professionals at Oasis Recovery if you or someone you care about is suffering from a substance use disorder. Our customized treatment plans and mental health services can help you or your loved one recover. Our programs include: 

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
• Full-time Addiction Treatment on campus
• Aftercare Services

You no longer have to struggle with this on your own. We are here to help you. Please contact us for more information about how our programs and services can help you get your life back on track.