How to Encourage Someone to Go to Drug and Alcohol Rehab

When someone you care about is struggling with addiction, you may want to help but not know what to do. Convincing someone to go to rehab can be hard, but there are steps you can take–whether you are helping a spouse with addiction or another loved one. Keep reading to learn how to get someone to go to rehab, and how to find resources, support, and treatment options near you.

How to Talk to Someone About Going to Rehab

If your loved one is struggling with substance use, you’re understandably concerned and eager to learn more about talking to someone about their drinking or drug use in an empathetic yet effective way. While you can’t force someone to get help if they’re not ready, you can encourage them and show your support. Helping a loved one with addiction isn’t always easy, but there are steps you can take.

1. Research Addiction Treatment

Researching addiction treatment options and learning how the rehab process works can set the stage for a conversation with your loved one. Researching rehabs–which can include reading online patient reviews and researching the facility’s credentials–can help you prepare.¹ Being proactive and willing to put in this effort also shows your concern and support.

A variety of resources exist to help you learn more about addiction, treatment, and using health insurance to pay for rehab, including:

• Rehabs.com
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• HealthCare.gov

2. Choose the Right Time and Place to Talk

Selecting the right time and place to talk with your loved one is important for helping your child with addiction, helping your parent with addiction, or helping another loved one. You should ensure that you’re in a calm and distraction-free environment and have set aside enough time to have a conversation where you can address your concerns.¹ You should also make sure that you and your loved one are not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances.¹

3. Express Concern, Not Judgment

You can help your loved one when you show your concern, love, and support without judgment, criticism, or blame.¹ It’s important to avoid stigmatizing language, such as referring to them as an “addict” or “alcoholic,” as this can perpetuate inaccurate beliefs that addiction is a moral failing.² Use “I” statements when addressing your concerns and stick to direct observations, such as “I’ve noticed that you’ve been drinking more than usual and I’m worried about you.”³

4. Share Specific Examples

Tell your loved one the ways that their alcohol or drug use has caused harm to themselves or others. This can help them see the effects of their addiction and possibly start to think differently about their substance use. For example, you could say, “When you drink, I’ve noticed that we’re fighting more. I’m feeling sad and the kids are concerned. Could we talk about this? It would be great if we could spend more time together as a family.”³

5. Listen and Offer Support

It’s important to be a calming influence and a safe form of support. Your loved one needs to feel that you view their emotions and experiences as valid. Encourage them to share their feelings and fears without interruption; this lets them know you’re there to help, not to judge. You might say, “Next time you feel like you want to drink or use drugs, call me instead. We can talk about it, and I’m here for you.”³

6. Present Addiction Treatment as a Positive Option

Discuss the benefits of rehab with your loved one. Explain how it can help them become sober and support their goals for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Make a plan with your loved one to take a look at rehab websites, or call facilities together and encourage them to ask any questions they might have about the process.

7. Have Addiction Treatment Options Ready

It can be a good idea to call your doctor or another medical professional to discuss the best ways to prepare for the conversation with your loved one. You can also encourage your loved one to call their doctor to schedule an evaluation and ask about addiction treatment options.³ Have a list of addiction treatment options you’ve already found so that together, you can start narrowing down the list of rehabs best suited for their needs.

8. Follow Up and Provide Encouragement

Keep checking in with your loved one and encourage their recovery process. If it’s not going well, remain positive and encouraging, and suggest working together to evaluate their goals.³ This can help them feel that you’re in their corner and that you’re fully committed to supporting their recovery journey.

What Not to Say When Convincing Someone To Go to Rehab

It’s important to avoid stigmatizing terms when talking to your loved one and others about addiction. When people with substance use disorder (SUD), feel stigmatized, they may postpone getting treatment.² Don’t call your loved one an addict, call them a person with an SUD; similarly, don’t refer to them as an alcoholic or drunk, call them a person with an alcohol use disorder (AUD).²

Avoid judgmental language and try to be as positive as possible; for example, instead of saying “I wish you wouldn’t drink so much,” say, “Would you be willing to try a few nights a week without alcohol?”³

Can You Make Someone Go to Rehab?

You can’t force an adult to go to rehab if they don’t want to. The only way an adult can be made to go to rehab against their will is through court-ordered rehab, although laws and requirements can vary by state.⁴ In any case, if they’re not yet willing to go to rehab, give the discussion a break and return to it at a later date; they may just need some extra time to mull things over.¹

Court Ordered Rehab

Court-ordered rehab means that a person is mandated to attend treatment by a judge in an attempt to reduce recidivism in someone who has been convicted of a drug-related crime.⁴ This typically means that the person will need to attend rehab while being monitored via intensive probation drug courts, or other means, instead of being incarcerated or as a condition of their parole, release, or probation.^{5, 6} Court-mandated rehab may help break the cycle of substance misuse in those involved with the criminal justice system.⁶

Start The Recovery Journey Today

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading provider of addiction treatment in the U.S., with rehabs located across the country. We offer:

• Medical detox.
• Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab.
• Outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs.
• Partial hospitalization rehab programs.
• Rehab aftercare.

Learning about how to convince someone to go to rehab is just the first step in helping your loved one start their recovery journey. Please call us at to speak to a member of our admissions team about the treatment options that might be best suited to your loved one’s needs. We can also easily verify their insurance when you call or fill out the short form below. It’s confidential and free, and there is no obligation to enter treatment.