Drug and alcohol rehab is a tough choice. If you are to get someone to consider this treatment option for their addiction, you may have to be firm about behaviors and consequences. This are simply boundaries. But how do you discuss this without painting yourself into a corner, and not leave the person who is the focus of the intervention, so bruised that they feel useless and without choice about rehab.

Firstly please do not may blanket statements of an “all or none” variety, that you won’t likely keep. An example of this might be, “If you don’t go to rehab and get treatment, I’m writing you off and never speaking to you again.” While you must be clear that certain behavior patterns will no longer continue, this type of remark will not get someone to willingly go to rehab.

A better example might be, “When you are using drugs, I will not lend or give you money for anything. You cannot stay in my house. I will support you emotionally and finacially only to find addiciton treatment and rehab. I will not continue to talk anytime with you if I suspect you are under the influence of a drug or alcohol.”

The point of all your discussions should be directed at the behaviors that need to be changed, and how you will support the person if they CHOOSE to change. If you want them to act immediately at least make arrangements at 2 places so the person is left with some choice. Remember, if someone agrees to go to rehab only because they feel pushed and forced to, all that will occur is a brief vacation from addiction. If change is to occur they have to want to be in rehab.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 13th, 2006 at 1:37 pm and is filed under Drug Rehab. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.