Involuntary Rehab: Can You Force Someone Into Rehab?

It can be difficult to watch someone you love suffering from a drug or alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction.

Addiction can affect your loved one in a number of ways, including through physical and mental health problems, issues with relationships and financial troubles.

You may want your friend or family member to go to a drug and alcohol rehab, but this can also be challenging.

This article will discuss involuntary rehab and explain if it’s possible to force someone into rehab. We will also share tips on how to encourage your loved one to seek drug or alcohol rehab treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Addiction

You should not ignore the symptoms of a drug addiction and alcohol addiction in your loved ones.

But you should remember that symptoms can take many different forms, depending on the individual and the type of addiction, whether that be an alcohol addiction, cocaine addiction (opioid use disorder) or cannabis addiction. [1]

Common symptoms of drug abuse and alcohol addiction include:

depression or sad mood
irritability
anxiety
insomnia
excessive lying
the inability to stop using drugs or drinking alcohol [2]

These symptoms can show themselves in a number of ways depending on the frequency and amount of substance your loved one is consuming.

If your loved one is suffering from a severe addiction or a drug overdose, they may experience the following symptoms:

a rise in temperature
pulse disturbances
coma
a decrease or increase in heart rate

Can You Force Your Loved One into Rehab?

You cannot legally force a loved one into a drug or alcohol rehab programme if they are over the age of 18. If you are concerned about your child and their addiction, you are entitled to decide for them as their legal guardian. [3]

However, there are other ways to encourage your child to attend a rehab programme for addiction treatment, which we will cover shortly.

If your loved one is over the age of 18, then it is their decision alone on whether they attend rehab, unless involuntary commitment laws are used. But forcing someone to go into a rehab programme can be detrimental to their long-term recovery prospects.

A successful recovery process is a life-long commitment and only works if someone is truly willing to work on their addiction habits, long after leaving inpatient treatment.

Involuntary rehab and involuntary treatment may be considered as a last effort to ensure your loved one’s recovery.

What are the Laws around Involuntary Rehab?

In the UK, involuntary commitment laws and involuntary rehab exist but are generally only used in extreme cases. It is also based on the Mental Health Act 1983, and not on substance abuse or addiction.

The Mental Health Act means that any individuals who are deemed a risk to themselves or others due to a mental health disorder can be detained and treated against their own will. [4]

As substance abuse and mental health disorders are commonly associated with each other, involuntary rehab is applied with the Mental Health Act and may apply to your loved one’s situation.

If you decide this is necessary, the Mental Health Tribunal will lead this action, reviewing your case to determine if your loved one should be treated against their will.

The Tribunal will look at whether it is in the individual’s best interests to be treated and decide if the benefits of forced treatment outweigh the risks.

Why does My Loved One Not Want to Get Help for Their Addiction?

Most of the time, if your loved one doesn’t want to get help for their addiction or alcohol use disorder, it may mean they are still in the denial phase. This means they do not believe they have a problem that needs treatment.

Before someone can start their recovery journey, they need to accept they have a problem that requires rehab. Accepting they have a problem will make the chances of a successful rehab recovery much higher.

Other reasons they may not want to get help for their drug or alcohol addiction could include:

hopelessness – led by mental health disorders such as depression
embarrassment
they are worried about being a burden on their family or friends

How do I Convince a Loved One to go to Rehab?

It can be a challenge to convince your loved one to get help at a drug and alcohol rehab for substance abuse treatment with medical professionals but below are some ways to approach your situation.

Choose the right timing

When looking to approach the topic of your loved one’s addiction, timing is important. If they have recently been drinking or taking drugs, then it is best to wait until a better time when they can think more clearly.

Educate yourself on drug and alcohol addiction

Before you speak with your loved one, it can be helpful if you understand more about what they are dealing with. Do some research and learn how they might be struggling with the disease.

Be empathetic

Try to be empathetic of their situation and don’t be judgmental. If you approach your loved one’s situation calmly and emphatically, the chance you have of getting through to them is much higher.

Conduct an intervention

If you don’t feel comfortable approaching your loved one, an intervention could be the best idea for you. You can do this either with friends or family, or with the assistance of a professional interventionist.

Show them a range of treatment and support options

There are many different options for your loved one if they are struggling with substance abuse.

Residential substance abuse treatment options can have different duration options. Whilst the usual period of time for an inpatient rehab is 28 days, if your loved one’s addiction is less severe, they might not have to attend rehab for as long.

Some individuals will attend rehab treatment facility for just 7 days, and then continue their recovery at home with outpatient services such as therapy and other mental health treatment.

There is also the option of joining support groups in your local community. This could include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous or SMART Recovery.

Your loved one might not be aware of all the various services available them to begin their recovery journey, so this could help them begin.

How Do I Stage an Intervention for My Loved One?

You might be considering staging an intervention if speaking to your loved one does not help to encourage them to seek help and enter voluntary treatment.

An intervention is usually best with a professional interventionist who is highly trained to make the intervention as successful as possible.

First, the interventionist will speak with you beforehand to prepare you for what will happen. Following that, you will approach your loved one with the help of the interventionist with the hopeful outcome of them agreeing to enter rehab and receive help.

If the intervention is successful, the interventionist will be able to help take your loved one straight to a nearby rehab facility to make sure that they don’t have time to change their mind. Your loved one can then start treatment for their substance abuse immediately.

What Alternatives are there to Involuntary Rehab?

Involuntary rehab may be necessary in the most extreme cases, but it is not generally recommended for long-term recovery.

Alternatives to involuntary rehab include:

Entering drug and alcohol rehab voluntarily

Encouraging your loved one to seek drug rehab treatment is the most effective way for their full recovery. Speaking to them in a calm and non-judgemental way to explain the benefits of seeking help for their health and well-being.

Attending outpatient services

Outpatient rehab can offer a solution if your family member or friend has a mild addiction.

This alternative can be less daunting as they will not have to stay overnight at the rehab facility through inpatient treatment. Instead, they can maintain some of their usual routines.

Getting help for mental health disorders

Often, mental health disorders can stop your loved one from being receptive to rehab treatment, so addressing mental health issues such as anxiety or depression with a mental health expert and mental health professional can help them seek rehab treatment.

By discussing these alternatives with the individual, you can help them to find a solution that offers a successful recovery without resorting to involuntary rehab.