4 Reasons Addicts Avoid Rehab and How to Change Their Mind

When you love someone who struggles with addiction, it can be incredibly frustrating to watch them suffer but continue to avoid going to rehab. You may also have trouble understanding exactly why your loved one would choose to continue their addiction rather than get the help they need to live a sober, fulfilling life. Unfortunately, you can’t force someone to go to rehab if they really don’t want to go, but you can be more effective at convincing someone to get help if you understand why they don’t want to go to rehab and how to change that.

Here are 4 reasons your addicted loved one may be avoiding rehab and how you can change their mind.

1. They Haven’t Reached Rock Bottom Yet

“Rock bottom” is a term people use to describe a point people reach in their addiction that is usually characterized by an emotional low point. Rock bottom can look different for everyone. For some people, it is getting fired from their job while for others rock bottom means getting arrested or losing custody of their children.

Some people have to reach an emotional or situational low before they will admit that they need help for addiction. If this sounds like your loved one, you may have to take a look at your own behaviors and ask yourself how you are enabling their addiction. Are you paying for things they could pay for themself? Have you made up excuses for them, lied to keep them out of trouble, or bailed them out of jail? Any actions that you take that shield your loved one from facing their own consequences, no matter how well-intended they are, can stop your loved one from reaching rock bottom and asking for help.

If your loved one has been continuing their addiction consequence-free, it may be time to set some boundaries and stop enabling their behaviors.

2. They’re in Denial About Their Addiction

Denial is extremely common among people struggling with addiction. Addiction is a cunning disease, and it can trick people into thinking that they actually have control over their drug use when, in reality, they do not. Denial also happens because admitting to suffering from addiction can be challenging. People may be afraid, embarrassed, and ashamed of admitting their problems.

If your loved one is in denial, the best way to deal with it is to stage an intervention. Interventions can be extremely powerful because they bring together loved ones and give each person a chance to tell the addict why they are concerned about them. Hearing from your loved ones how worried about you they are can be eye-opening, convincing your loved one to get the help they need.

3. They’re Afraid of Losing Their Job

Fear of job loss stops many people from going to rehab. Losing your job can mean bills going unpaid, getting behind on rent, losing health coverage, and more. As a result, it is easy to see why people may avoid going to rehab out of fear of losing their job. However, most U.S. employees qualify for something called the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA allows you to take time off work to go to rehab or receive other forms of medical care as long as you work for a qualified employer and meet the following qualifications:

• Must have worked for the company for 12 consecutive months
• Must have worked a minimum of 1,250 hours during their 12 months of employment
• The company must have at least 50 employees within 75 miles of their location

If your loved one doesn’t qualify for the FMLA, consider helping them find an outpatient rehab program that offers flexible treatment scheduling around their work hours. Outpatient programs are a great option for people who want to go to rehab without it affecting their employment status.

4. Rehab is Too Expensive and Their Finances are Suffering

Another reason people struggling with addiction avoid rehab is because of money. Addiction treatment can be expensive, with inpatient programs costing upwards of $20,000 per month. And, most people who are in active drug or alcohol addiction aren’t in the best financial situation because they’ve been spending extravagant amounts of money on drugs and alcohol.

However, if your loved one has insurance, their treatment may be partially or fully covered at an in-network drug rehab center. If they don’t have insurance already, offer to help them apply for an affordable health plan on the Healthcare Marketplace. All insurance plans must offer coverage for substance abuse and mental health treatment thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

If insurance still doesn’t cover enough of the costs, help your loved one find a rehab center that offers payment plans or scholarship opportunities. Many drug rehab centers recognize that finances create a major barrier to treatment, so they have ways to support those who can’t afford care.

Don’t Give Up!

Convincing a loved one to go to rehab isn’t easy, but these steps can help you help your loved one past significant barriers that may be stopping them from accepting help. Even though helping an addict isn’t easy, it’s important that you don’t give up. Your dedication and support will pay off in the long run.