Drug and alcohol addiction impacts the lives of not only the person with addiction but their loved ones as well. Family members, co-workers, employers, and friends might wonder how to convince someone to go to rehab.

Getting a loved one to rehab isn’t easy. And, ultimately the decision is up to the person in need of recovery. At Lexington Addiction Center in Kentucky, we’re here to help those who struggle with addiction get the best treatment possible. We also provide support to their loved ones throughout the treatment process.

How to Convince Someone to Go to Rehab

Discussing rehab with a person who is addicted can be an emotional process. Therefore, you need to consider a few things before approaching your loved one. Instead of bringing up the subject of rehab out of blue, it is best to take a proactive approach. That way, you are prepared and less likely to allow emotions to overwhelm you.

The following tips can help you convince someone to go to rehab:

Learn About Addiction and Treatment

It is crucial to learn about your loved one’s addiction and treatment options. First, by learning about addiction, you gain an understanding of the problem. Oftentimes, family members and friends might come across as judgmental or perplexed. They might say things like “why can’t you just stop?” or “you’re choosing to be addicted.”

The truth about addiction is much more complex. Your loved one never intended to become an addict. No one does. The following can help you learn more about addiction:

• Watch videos or read stories that recovering addicts and their loved ones have posted online to share
• Research addiction online, especially the specific substance your loved one uses
• Attend an open AA or NA meeting, which is open to observers or others who aren’t in recovery themselves

Next, learn about treatment options. By learning more about how addiction is treated, you can come up with options that your loved one might be more receptive towards. Many treatment centers offer specialized treatment services that might suit your loved one’s needs better than others.

In addition, ask yourself the following to better understand what level of treatment is appropriate for your loved one:

• Have they been in treatment before or is this the first time?
• If they were in treatment before, did they complete the program? If not, why?
• Have they been sober for a time and are currently relapsing?
• Do they have a co-occurring mental health disorder?
• What substance are they addicted to? Do they use multiple drugs?

Learning more can also help you to gain control over your “knee-jerk” emotional responses to your loved one’s behavior.

Keep Your Emotions in Check

Addiction and rehab can be emotionally charged topics. You want to be sure that your own emotions are in-check before approaching a loved one. Of course, when the intervention occurs, emotions will come out. Therefore, you also want to plan how you will deal with these emotions in the moment.

First and foremost, you need to come from a place of concern. Talking to someone about rehab is not about shaming or blaming them. Rather, it is about recognizing a problem and helping your loved one get the help they deserve. The following can help you get your emotions in check:

• Talk to a trusted person about your concerns. You might want to consider someone outside of the situation so that they can be neutral and let you talk openly or vent.
• Discuss your feelings and emotions with a professional. Therapy can also help the loved ones of those addicted. Family members are especially prone to struggle when they live with an addict.
• Attend a support group for friends and family of addicts. There are many support groups for the loved ones of addicts. Al-Anon is one of the most well-known, however, there are several other groups as well. Many groups now meet up via online chat platforms.
• Plan what you will do if your emotions do become overwhelming. Preparation is not just about preventing emotional outbursts. It is also about what you will do if emotions start getting out of control. For instance, you might need to take a break to calm down while another loved one jumps in.

Connect With Professionals and Plan an Intervention

Contact an addiction treatment center to learn more about how to convince someone to go to rehab. Many treatment centers will offer valuable information for you, even if you aren’t a client or your loved one chooses another facility. It’s best to make connections and pick a few treatment centers that you think your loved one would attend. That way, when you do have an intervention, you can present options for them or point them in the right direction

Some centers even offer professional interventionists to assist you in an intervention. Planning an intervention with professional guidance is always best. However, if you can’t find a professional interventionist, most prospective rehab centers you are recommending to your loved one will often offer advice and tips over the phone.

Remember You Might Not Succeed

While you might have learned all you can about how to convince someone to go to rehab, the choice will not be up to you. If your loved one doesn’t want help, you can’t force them into it.

However, it is important to remain positive and remember that getting someone into rehab is also a process. And, you might need to have several conversations over the course of months or years to succeed. Just remember, the next time you talk to them about rehab might be the time they finally choose to go.

Help a Loved One Find Rehab Today

Talking to a loved one about going to rehab isn’t easy. However, you don’t need to do it alone. Lexington Addiction Center in Kentucky is here to help you and your loved one through the treatment process. We’re available to answer your questions about your loved one’s addiction and treatment needs. Contact us today to speak to our team.