When you have a loved one who is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you may need to convince them to go to rehab. The very thought of going to rehab is frightening for most people. It forces them to admit they have a problem. This is something that many addicted individuals are unwilling to do. Also, going to rehab may feel like they have hit rock bottom, another feeling that addicts don’t want to experience. But as someone who cares about them, it’s important that you do everything within your power to convince them to go to rehab for a loved one. In fact, it may be the thing that saves their life.
5 Ways of Convincing Someone to Go to Rehab
Here are five ways to convince someone to go to a drug or alcohol rehab center:
1. Have a Heart-to-Heart Talk
Choose a time when your loved one is not under the influence. This will be their most lucid time when they are more capable of logic and seeing the truth. If possible, have the conversation in a safe place, such as their home or yours. A restaurant is not a good place because you may be interrupted by the waiter or overheard by fellow patrons. Start off by saying that you’re concerned about them and you would like to help. Chances are they’ll automatically respond by saying they’re fine. Then you can list some examples of why you think that they do need help, reasons why you think they aren’t winning their battle, and why they need professional addiction treatment programs.
2. Don’t Use Accusatory Language
It’s important not to use accusatory language during your discussion. You don’t want your loved one to go on the defense. Accusatory language includes phrases like:
- You never
- You didn’t
- You were supposed
Instead, use objective language based on you and your feelings. This includes phrases like:
- I feel like
- Sometimes my feelings get hurt when
- It makes me sad when
When you’re talking about how you feel, avoid talking about being angry or disappointed. This can come off as accusatory because it sounds like you’re blaming the other person for their actions. Even though the conversation is about the addict, you need to make it about how you feel and why you want to help.
3. Explain Why You Want to Help
The next part of the conversation will be talking about why you care and why you want to help. Talk about shared history, using phrases like:
- I remember when you were a little boy/girl
- You used to enjoy playing with
- You were always so good at
- I loved it when you
This helps to convey that you have a shared past and that you have a reason to care; you have a vested interest in their well-being.
4. Get Into the Details of the Problem
Once you have their attention and their openness, it’s okay to get into the details of their problem, such as how long it’s been going on, their legal troubles, health issues, and so on. You need to get across the seriousness of the issue. Then you can talk about how they haven’t been able to beat this on their own and that they may need residential addiction treatment to get through it.
5. Explain the Rehab Program
Finally, you can bring up the rehab program in Portland, Oregon where you’d like to enroll them. Explain how it works and some of the things they’d be doing while they are there. Talk about how others have gone to the treatment center and battled their addictions and won. Remind your loved one that you will be available for any family-related sessions and available for emotional support.
Addiction Treatment is the Solution
You need to get across to the friend or loved one that addiction treatment is a process of overcoming addiction through various therapeutic methods. It can involve detoxification, counseling, and medication. Treatment usually takes place in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
Detoxification is the first step in addiction treatment. This involves ridding the body of the addictive substance. Counseling helps patients understand their addiction and work through the issues that led to it. Medication can be used to help with withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Treatment usually takes place in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Inpatient treatment is a more intensive level of care, where patients live at the treatment facility. Outpatient treatment allows patients to live at home while attending treatment sessions during the week.
Addiction treatment is an important step in overcoming addiction. With the help of detoxification, counseling, and medication, patients can learn to live a life without addiction.
Help Someone Get the Help They Need
Rehab might be your loved one’s last chance at recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. If you’re looking for rehab for a loved one, we have what you need in downtown Portland. To learn more about our programs at Crestview Recovery, please contact us at 866.262.0531.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
