Are you feeling lost in how to convince someone to go to rehab?
If you have a loved one who has fallen into the cycle of addiction, you may feel hopeless as you watch them destroy their lives, taking those around them down, too. Addiction is a ravenous disease, and unless its deceitful progress is stopped, it will continue to take and take. The course will carry on, until the addict has nothing more to give, not even their life.
The majority of people who suffer from addiction are completely unable to stop on their own.
Even with that knowledge, it can be incredibly frustrating and confusing when you don’t know exactly how to help. You may be feeling at a loss for words, which you feel will have any sort of real impact on your addicted loved one.
In the end, any person suffering from an addiction must make their own conscious decision to participate in recovery. That said, it doesn’t necessarily need to be their idea to get treatment. The road to recovery is made up of many steps, leading to many little victories.
If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, it is common to experience feelings of doubt or hopelessness. Especially when you are trying to convince this individual to enter a rehab or treatment program. Your feelings of uncertainty can be cleared up with these few pieces of advice. These include, but are not limited to:
- Educating yourself on the subject of addiction and treatment, as well as self-care
- Eliminating judgment you may have towards addicts or those struggling with addiction
- Make a plan for intervention
Stage 1: Educating yourself on the subject of addiction and treatment, as well as self-care
DON’T waste your time listening to “everyone else”. 1 out of every 10 adults in America consider themselves to be in recovery for some form of substance abuse, according to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
Take these numbers into serious consideration. This means that almost everyone you come in contact with will know someone who has a problem with substance abuse. You are guaranteed to hear or read hundreds of pieces of advice. All coming with good intentions, but most all of it will be irrelevant to your unique situation. Not to mention, there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Do educate yourself thoroughly about the disease of addiction. Yes, you read that correctly. Addiction is a disease. That said, you need to treat it as such. Get in contact with a professional, read certified literature and attend your local addiction support groups, such as AA or Al-Anon meetings.
This step of the process may just be the most vitally important when trying to understand an addict. If you take anything away from this article, let it be this. By educating yourself, you’ll have a much greater chance of convincing a loved one to get treatment. Additionally, you will be able to restore balance and serenity in your own life.
Stage 2: Eliminating judgment you may have towards addicts or those struggling with addiction
I know what you’re thinking. This addict and their addiction has completely taken over your life. How can you not judge them, and their destructive behavior?
I hear you. That said, the following may help you understand why judging, or putting blame on an addict will do more harm than good.
Don’t judge the addict. Even if their disruptive actions may have caused poor, harmful or dangerous life decisions. The repercussions that stem from addiction are often felt from those who are closest to the addict. This includes money lost, embarrassment and even emotional or physical abuse.
It can seem nearly impossible to forgive these actions. However, if you want to truly help an addict, you must put those hurt feelings aside for a moment. You must be able to differentiate the individual from the addiction.
Do attend AA, or Al-Anon meetings, to help you understand the disease and to get a better idea of how you can help. These meetings also provide an opportunity for you to share your feelings with other recovering addicts, and their families. A support group like this is essential. Make sure that your words are coming from a place of love and support. You are not trying to “beat” the addict up for their behavior, you are trying to support them in getting the help they need. Emotionally connecting to the addict will help compel that person to accept going into treatment.
Stage 3: Make a plan for intervention
Holding an intervention can be one of the most effective strategies used to convince your addict to accept rehab. This step can powerfully motivate the person, by opening their eyes to the pain and hardships their addiction has caused.
Most addicts live a life of denial. Their self-centered routines are, more often than not, un-recognized by the addict themselves. This disease will leave a person blind to how destructive their behavior really is to those around them.
Should you choose to plan an intervention, make sure to meticulously organize beforehand. All friends and family members should participate. Hold the intervention in a safe location, and contact treatment facilities ahead of time to make sure they are ready for your addict (if they choose to go).
Do consider using a professional interventionist. These individuals are trained and experienced, and will remember all the details that you may fail to take into account. They also have the mental health training to be able to coordinate the entire event in a non judgemental matter. An interventionist will know exactly how to plan, manage and execute each step of the intervention properly.
Teenage drug rehab can also be effective, and if the addict is under 18, you may be able to have them admitted without their agreement. Once in treatment, the addict will drug detox and then receive the counseling, therapy, and tools they need to live a clean, sober, and productive life.
