Can You Force Someone Into Rehab?

It’s heart-wrenching and difficult to stay quiet when a loved one is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. You’re desperate to get them help, but you’re also hesitant about approaching them out of fear of the response. They might display defiance, aggression, hostility or even plain denial. You know rehab is the best option for your loved one, but they refuse to consider it. Can you make someone go to rehab against their will? Is forced rehab even effective? This article will discuss these concerns.

Can You Force Someone to go to Rehab?

There are some ways of how to admit someone to rehab against their will. These include:

If the person is under 18 years of age and you’re the parent or legal guardian, you are allowed to admit him to rehab, even without his consent.
If the person is a threat to himself or those around him, and this fact is medically proven, he can be sent to rehab.
By taking the person to a drug court, they’ll be sent to a treatment facility instead of prison. However, the person must first be arrested, plead guilty, and be willing to go ahead with the treatment program.
The involuntary commitment laws are a legal process that allows for a person suffering from SUD to be admitted to a rehab involuntarily.

Involuntary Rehab—What Are the Involuntary Commitment Laws?

The involuntary commitment laws give allowance to facilities to accept patients that are exhibiting signs of mental illness. There is a process involved in placing someone into rehab against their will; there are some criteria that must be met, based on how dangerous the situation is. These criteria differ between the states. The following requirements must usually be met:

The individual poses a danger to himself or those around him.
The person suffering from SUD is physically or mentally disabled, and is incapable of making his own decisions. For example, he has no power to control his urges for substance use.
The person cannot tend to his own basic physical needs.

It’s best to consult a local expert for more information about your state’s specific process.

The duration of the patient’s stay in rehab also differs between the states. Each state decides how long the person will remain in rehab, ensuring that the duration is kept at a minimum so as not to invade the person’s rights. It can range between 3 days to a year. They also have the right to lengthen the person’s duration if they deem it necessary, e.g., if the person needs further treatment.

Which States Have Involuntary Commitment Laws?

37 states and the District of Columbia have involuntary commitment laws. Bear in mind that the exact process will differ from state to state.

Below is the list of participating states:

Alaska
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Indiana
Lowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Can you force someone into rehab for alcohol through the involuntary commitment laws?

Yes. These 37 states have involuntary commitment laws for the treatment of both alcohol and SUD. Vermont is the only state which permits involuntary commitment for SUD only. On the flip side, Rhode Island and Montana permit involuntary commitment for alcohol addiction only.

Is Forcing Someone into Rehab Effective?

Involuntary treatment has been a highly debated issue for many years. Some people say that the will to change must come from within, and that forced rehab won’t really help. However, it could be argued that someone who is suffering from a substance disorder will probably never help himself due to his inability to make the right choices or even think rationally. Paranoia, depression and anxiety are some of many distressing symptoms that could prevent a person from getting the help he needs. Hence, forced rehab might be the ideal or even the sole option in situations like these.

Based on past experiences, each state will give a different response as to whether or not forcing someone into rehab will have positive results. Some studies have shown that relapse is more likely to occur soon after discharge if the treatment was involuntary. However, it’s been proven that treatment can still be effective despite it being involuntary.

How to Help Someone Who Refuses to go to Rehab

Up until now we’ve discussed ways of how to force someone into rehab when they’re incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions. But can you force someone into rehab while enabling positive results? Is there a more gentle and supportive option?

The ideal would be to be able to get through to the addict and convince him that treatment is needed, but unfortunately, this doesn’t usually work. This resistance could be due to various reasons:

The person might be in denial about the severity of their disorder.
The person might be afraid of rehab or the painful withdrawal symptoms that accompany detox.
The person might not have the means to afford rehab.
The person might be ashamed to admit they need help.

There are no rules as to how to force someone into rehab. You could initially try to use a more sympathetic and caring approach and organize a professional intervention, which may have positive results. However, it’s unlikely that someone who is severely addicted to substances will make healthy decisions.

The key is to be persistent. Continue taking steps to protect your loved one and try to intervene when you sense that they are less resistant to help (i.e. after he suffered an injury under the influence of the substance).