Answer to your Question

Answered By: Addiction Specialist

Answer: No one can be forced to go to rehab, even if it is clearly in their best interest. In order for a person to recover from an addiction they must want to stop, so placing an unwilling person into rehab would be unlikely to result in a lasting recovery anyway. That being said, the purpose of an intervention is to give the addict the opportunity to see the effects of their addiction and hopefully become willing to enter treatment. Very often, addicts are in denial about their addiction and its consequences. An intervention, when correctly executed in conjunction with a professional interventionist, undermines this denial by forcing the addict to see how their addiction has affected their own life and the lives of those around them. Depending on the addict and their circumstances, they may then become willing to admit that they have a problem and accept help. It is important to remember not to attempt to perform an intervention without the help of a professional interventionist. It is also important to remember that addiction affects the entire family and that you should to take care of yourself as well. You may choose to attend a meeting of Al-anon http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/, a community based, free 12-step program for the families of alcoholics. For more information on resources for those affected by addiction, you can contact us through our contact page.

Answered on: September 29, 2008