No one chooses to be an addict because that’s what they aspire to be. Addicts tend to fall into addiction for many reasons, but for the most part, they do so and remain there unwillingly. The first and most important step of a 12-step program was placed at the beginning for good reason – without acknowledging the problem, it’s impossible to fix it. Yet, there are so many out there who, despite having been brought down by their addiction many times, are still apparently (and stubbornly) in denial.
Convincing someone to go to rehab is not as straightforward as one may think, there could be numerous cognitive, behavioral, and physical challenges that may restrain one of our loved ones from seeking the help they need.
So, how do you convince someone to go to rehab?
Facts, Facts, and More Facts
If you want to help your loved ones to get to rehab, then you need to help them understand why they need to go in there in the first place. No one wants to hear they need medical treatment, and addicts aren’t particularly keen on accepting defeat. After all, substances can cloud reasoning, and bring about a false illusion of control.
To help our loved ones get the treatment they need, we need to help them bring their feet back to earth.
One may ask if:
- They know all of the negative effects that drugs and alcohol cause on their bodies.
- They are aware of the gravity of their actions?
- They understand their options and how support can help them get better.
What may seem like straightforward reasons to us might not be apparent to them, don’t be shy in presenting facts that might be logical to you as they could be in oblivion. Educating ourselves, and then educating our loved ones is the first step in helping us get them to help promptly.
Not sure where to educate yourself? Try browsing our library of content, it covers many informative topics.
Bring in a Pro
Despite our best efforts to educate our loved ones, they might still choose to recklessly ignore the consequences of addiction and live in denial. Stubbornness goes hand-in-hand with addiction, which makes convincing someone to go to rehab even more difficult. Even if an addict understands their condition and knows deep inside that seeking help is the right thing to do, they may choose not to get better. They are not at fault, drugs, and alcohol impair addicts from making the right decisions.
When you are unable to convince someone to go to rehab, it’s time to bring in professional help and consider doing an intervention.
A professional intervention is a strategy in which those closest to the addict get together with a recovery expert to express their love and concern for the addict. The big emotional pull that this situation brings is usually enough to trigger an emotional response in the addict that is strong enough to bring him or her into rehab.
Convincing Someone to Go to Rehab Before It’s Too Late
With addiction, the clock is always ticking. Victims of substance abuse are always a dose away from their last demise. Being determined and quick is not just crucial, convincing someone to go to rehab could mean the difference between life and death.
Rock bottom can be a long way down the well, and it’s best to catch our loved ones before they fall down to a place we can no longer reach. Addiction is a progressive disease, the longer the addict stays sick, the more difficult it becomes to nurse them back to health. The long-term effects of drugs and social consequences can make recovery more difficult and expensive.
Act now, and seek help.
How to Get Professional Help
How do you convince someone to go to rehab if they don’t want to get help? If your loved one is still not convinced to go to rehab after trying the suggestions in this article, then it’s time to seek professional help.
Recovery Beach serves many areas around California and can help you and your loved ones find the help you need to stay sober.
Contact Recovery Beach to get help and convince your loved ones to get the treatment they need and go to rehab.