Witnessing someone you care about struggle with addiction is profoundly distressing. Many individuals reach out to Sequoia Recovery seeking guidance and asking an essential question: “How do I get someone into rehab?”
This is not only an important inquiry but also a courageous one. No one should face the challenges of addiction alone. The stakes are significant: in 2022, 48.7 million individuals aged 12 or older in the United States were living with a substance use disorder, yet only 10.3% received any form of treatment.
Recognizing When Rehab Is Needed
Addiction doesn’t always look like the dramatic scenes we see on television. Many people struggling with substance use continue showing up for work, caring for families, or maintaining outward appearances while silently fighting a losing battle.
Sometimes the signs are subtle: a person becoming more withdrawn, struggling with anxiety or depression, losing weight, or neglecting self-care. Other times, they’re more obvious—such as legal troubles, frequent absences from work or school, or sudden financial problems.
How Do You Get Someone Into Rehab?
Getting someone into rehab often takes patience, compassion, and a well-laid plan. It’s normal to feel unsure where to begin. Here’s how to approach this life-changing process.
Educate Yourself About Addiction and Treatment Options
Knowledge can ease your fear and prepare you for difficult conversations. Addiction changes brain chemistry, hijacking the reward system and making it nearly impossible for your loved one to “just stop.” Understanding this can help you approach them with empathy instead of anger.
Rehab is not one-size-fits-all. At Sequoia Recovery, we offer services tailored to each person’s unique needs, including medical detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, and dual diagnosis support for co-occurring mental health issues. For example, someone with severe withdrawal risks might need medical detox, while another person could thrive in outpatient care with daily support.
Choose the Right Moment and Approach with Care
Timing and tone are crucial. If you want to talk to your loved one, pick a time when they’re sober and relatively calm. Avoid having these discussions during or immediately after substance use.
Use gentle, non-confrontational language. Instead of accusing, share your observations and concerns:
- “I’ve noticed you seem really tired and distant lately.”
- “I’m worried because you haven’t been yourself.”
These conversations can be emotional. It’s normal for someone to deny a problem or react defensively. Stay calm, even if the conversation doesn’t go as planned. Change takes time.
It’s also worth knowing that about 60% of people with substance use disorders also experience mental health issues like depression or anxiety, which can make these talks even more complicated.
Consider Professional Intervention
Sometimes, no matter how many gentle conversations you try, your loved one refuses help. This is where professional intervention can make all the difference.
A trained interventionist can guide a structured conversation with family and friends, focusing on encouraging your loved one to accept treatment. Research shows up to 80-90% of interventions led by professionals result in the person agreeing to enter rehab.
Prepare Practical Details Before the Conversation
If your loved one agrees to treatment, you’ll want to move quickly. Time is often of the essence. Start researching rehab options in advance. Understand the admission requirements, costs, and insurance coverage. Think through practical concerns like transportation and time off work. At Sequoia Recovery, our team helps families handle these logistics every day, so you’re not left scrambling.
Establish Boundaries—and Stick to Them
Loving someone with addiction sometimes means making difficult choices. While it feels counterintuitive, setting boundaries is often necessary to encourage someone toward treatment. This might mean refusing to lend money, not covering up legal consequences, or declining to provide housing if your loved one continues using substances. These boundaries aren’t punishment—they’re a way of protecting yourself and possibly creating the conditions that motivate change.
Barriers to Getting Someone Into Rehab
Even with love and planning, obstacles can make getting someone into rehab feel impossible. Denial is one of the biggest hurdles. Many people simply don’t believe they have a problem. Others fear withdrawal, losing their job, or facing stigma. Financial concerns are real, too. Approximately 90% of people who needed treatment said they didn’t get it because they thought they couldn’t afford it. There are also practical barriers, like childcare responsibilities, work obligations, or transportation. These challenges can feel overwhelming—but they’re not impossible.
Why Professional Help Matters
Addiction is a disease that affects both the mind and body. While love and support are crucial, they’re rarely enough on their own. Professional treatment provides:
- Medical supervision during detox to manage withdrawal safely
- Evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people change harmful thought patterns
- Treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions like depression or anxiety
- A safe, structured environment free from triggers
- Support for families to begin their own healing
Recovery is possible. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40% to 60% of people with substance use disorders achieve long-term sobriety with professional care.
Let Sequoia Recovery Help You Take the Next Step
If you’re asking yourself, “How do I get someone into rehab?”—know this: you are not alone. Helping a loved one face addiction is one of the bravest, most loving acts you can do.
At Sequoia Recovery, we’re ready to guide you through every step, from having those first difficult conversations to ensuring your loved one has the care and support they need. Whether you’re ready to admit someone today or just gathering information, we’re here for you.
Contact us today to learn how we can help your loved one—and your family—start the journey toward recovery.
FAQs About Getting Someone Into Rehab
We hear the same questions from families every day. Here are some of the most common—and important—answers.
How do I convince someone who doesn’t believe they have a problem?
It’s incredibly difficult when someone is convinced they’re fine. Keep your conversations focused on how their behavior affects you and others, rather than accusing or shaming them. Sometimes, it takes several conversations—or a professional intervention—to help them see the truth.
Can I force someone into rehab?
It depends. Some states allow involuntary commitment for substance use if someone poses a danger to themselves or others. However, laws vary widely, and involuntary treatment is complicated. Voluntary treatment typically leads to better outcomes. We’re happy to help you explore what’s possible in your area.
What if my loved one doesn’t have insurance?
Don’t lose hope. At Sequoia Recovery, we work with many insurance providers and offer private pay plans, financing options, and help identifying state-funded programs or grants. Let’s talk about what’s available for your family.
What happens if they refuse treatment after an intervention?
Unfortunately, interventions don’t always lead to immediate acceptance. Even so, they often plant seeds for change. Stay consistent with your boundaries and remind your loved one that help is available when they’re ready.
How quickly can someone enter rehab?
Most rehab facilities can admit clients within 24 hours once they’re ready, handling assessments, insurance, and transportation quickly to avoid losing momentum.
