How Do I Convince Someone Addicted to Meth to Go to Rehab

Clinically Reviewed by Matt Hawk ICAADC, CACII, Written by Karen Hadley

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Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive drugs in the world. It is not only addictive but it’s also physically, mentally and emotionally destructive. It can quickly tear apart the life of the person using the drug and also the lives of their spouse, children, parents, other family and close friends. For this reason, getting this person into a good drug rehab as soon as possible is vital.

Once you have identified addiction as the problem that is tearing up family relationships, finances, health and more, it is almost always up to the family to choose the rehab, work out how to cover the cost and ensure the individual starts the program.

When you approach your loved one with the idea of rehab, don’t be surprised if they push back. They are likely to be angry and accusative. They may attack those trying proposing rehab, blaming everyone else for their drug use or problems. They will probably claim that they are in control of their drug use or they might claim that they can quit or cut down when they want to. It doesn’t matter what they say. It’s all just an effort to avoid getting sober.

Why Doesn’t This Person Want to Go to Rehab?

When you consider all the harm that’s being done to the person’s health and life, it may make no sense to you that they don’t beg you to go to rehab. For most addicted people, asking for rehab is an impossibility. The drugs are in control. The individual feels like they will never be able to feel “normal” unless they have drugs in their system.

There’s two more reasons they see going to rehab as unbearable. First, they know how much they have harmed others they care about. They know how much money they have spent on drugs and maybe have stolen from friends and family. So now, they don’t feel like they deserve any help or support. They feel completely degraded.

Second, the effects of meth on their mind reduce their ability to be analytical. They may not be able to envision a future in which they can enjoy being sober. They may have simply given up hope, especially if they have already made multiple efforts to get sober and failed. They can’t even reach out to family and ask for help.

You’re going to have to help them get over these barriers so they can begin a journey back to health and a productive enjoyment of life.

What Works and What Doesn’t Work

It doesn’t work to tearfully beg the individual to please, please go to rehab. When they are addicted, methamphetamine is so powerful, it will prevent them from responding to this appeal.

It also doesn’t work to yell at them and accuse them of all the bad things they’ve done. Yes, they’ve created harm. But anger and accusation will not lower any barriers to accepting rehab.

What may work is letting the individual know how much you care about them—the real them, the one they were before they were addicted.

What really does work is eliminating any path of escape from going to rehab. That could mean refusing to give them any more money or pay for a phone, car, gas or apartment. Family members will have to stop buying them groceries or helping them keep their life together in other ways.

It is vital that the whole family works together on this. The stronger members of the family may have to identify the weaker, more vulnerable ones who might keep enabling the person’s drug use. Grandparents are often taken advantage of in this situation and must be protected from the addicted person who might continue to ask them for money or shelter.

Working with a Professional Interventionist

Professional interventionists are often the best solution in this situation. They are completely immune to an addicted person’s claims, appeals and excuses. They have rock-solid certainty on the necessity for rehab and what the future will be like without rehab. They can be entirely frank with the addicted person. The interventionist’s presence can enormously strengthen a family’s position and help this effort succeed.

Why Not to Take “No” For an Answer

Remember this: No one wants to be an addict. No one. it doesn’t matter what your loved one says or what they claim. They really do want their life back. However, the powerful grip of meth continues to trap them in addiction. By refusing to take “no” for an answer, you will be bringing this person back to health and sanity. You might even be saving their life.

What it Takes to Get Off of a Meth Addiction

It takes a lot of work to help a meth user to get clean. The hard work begins with helping them make their own decision to enter rehab. Meth users need help and they need the support of both family and the staff at an effective drug rehab program.

Fighting a meth habit is a difficult struggle to say the least, but it is a winnable one. In Narconon centers around the world, tens of thousands of individuals have recovered from addiction to meth, alcohol, heroin and many more drugs. This miracle can happen for your loved one. Call Narconon today and get the help you need to make this miracle happen.