Rehab is a treatment plan designed to help a person quit or decrease their substance use and develop a steady life. Most families are successful when they have patience and preparation to learn about the options, choose a quiet time, listen more than they lecture, and give an actual next step. If they are unable to acknowledge their need for care, a court process could be used.
If you want to send someone to rehab, talk to them in a calm and caring way, arrange for treatment before you talk to them, and seek a professional evaluation. Family training methods work better than ultimatums and threats if they refuse to cooperate. The Marchman Act serves as a legal process in Florida when someone is no longer in control of their use and is at serious risk.
This is great news if you’re feeling stuck. There’s no time of crisis, no TV script, and no flawless speech. You need a plan, some practice, and support to help you along the way.
Don’t know where to begin that initial discussion? Make it happen; Orlando Treatment Solutions is here to help your family plan for it
What is Rehab, and What Does It Do?
Rehab, short for rehabilitation, is professional treatment for substance use disorder. It helps people stop using, manage cravings, repair relationships, and treat related mental health conditions. Rehab uses therapy, medical care, education, and peer support. It happens in different settings, from live-in programs to outpatient schedules that let people stay home.
What is a Rehab Center?
A rehab center is a licensed facility where clinicians deliver that care. Some offer medical detox and overnight stays. Others, like outpatient centers, offer structured therapy during the day or evening while clients live at home. Quality centers start with an assessment and build a plan around the person, not a fixed template.
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We’re here for you—completely confidential and always respectful of your privacy. Call us today!
What Does Rehab Consist Of?
Rehab consists of an assessment, a treatment plan, and a mix of services matched to the person. Common parts include medical detox when needed, behavioral therapy, medications for some addictions, family involvement, and aftercare. According to NIDA, effective programs address the whole person, including medical, mental health, social, and legal needs.
Rehab Component | What Happens | Why It Matters |
Assessment | Clinicians review substance use, health, and home life. | Places the person in the right level of care |
Detox (when needed) | Medical staff manages withdrawal safely. | Some withdrawal, like alcohol, can be dangerous. |
Behavioral therapy | CBT, group work, and coping skills practice | Changes the thinking and habits behind use |
Medications | FDA-approved options for opioid or alcohol use disorder | Reduce cravings and relapse risk |
Family sessions | Loved ones learn about recovery. | Improves communication and home support |
Aftercare | Ongoing groups and check-ins | Protects progress after the program ends |
NIDA principle: No single treatment fits everyone, and effective care attends to a person’s many needs, not only their drug use. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, Principles of Effective Treatment)
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Why Would Someone Go to Rehab?
People go to rehab when substance use starts running their life instead of the other way around. Common reasons include failed attempts to cut back, withdrawal symptoms, health scares, trouble at work or home, legal problems, and worsening anxiety or depression. Many go because someone they love asked them to, and that request mattered.
Signs your loved one may need help include:
- Using more, or longer, than they planned
- Hiding use, lying about it, or getting defensive
- Dropping hobbies, work duties, or family time
- Feeling sick, shaky, or anxious without the substance
Seeing several of these signs? A confidential call to Orlando Treatment Solutions clarifies next steps.
Steps to Get Someone Into Rehab
Getting someone into rehab works best as a planned process, not a single dramatic moment. Learn about addiction, line up a treatment option, choose a calm time, speak with care, and offer one clear next step. If they say no, keep the door open, protect your boundaries, and keep practicing.
- Learn and write it down. Note specific moments that worry you, with dates. Facts land better than labels.
- Prepare a real option. Call a program, verify insurance, and know how admission works before you talk.
- Pick your moment. Choose a private, calm time when your loved one is sober.
- Speak with “I” statements. Say “I was scared when you drove home last night,” not “You’re a drunk.”
- Listen and ask. Ask what worries them about treatment, and answer those concerns honestly.
- Offer one clear step. “Will you come to an assessment with me Thursday?” is easier to accept than “Go to rehab.”
- Hold steady boundaries. Stop covering debts or excuses, but keep showing warmth when they are sober.
Expert Advice: Line up a treatment spot before the conversation so yes becomes action.
What Works Best to Get Someone Into Rehab?
Research favors Community Reinforcement and Family Training, or CRAFT. It teaches relatives to reward sober behavior, communicate positively, and suggest treatment at the right moments. In one randomized trial, CRAFT helped 64% of families engage an unmotivated loved one in treatment, compared with 30% for confrontational interventions.
Family Approach | How It Works | Loved Ones Who Entered Treatment |
CRAFT | Positive communication, rewards for sober behavior, well-timed invitations | 64% |
Johnson-style intervention | Planned group confrontation | 30% |
Al-Anon facilitation | Focus on family coping and 12-step support. | 13% |
Source: Miller, Meyers, and Tonigan, 1999, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
Research insight: Across multiple studies, families trained in CRAFT engaged roughly 55% to 86% of treatment-refusing loved ones in care, and family conflict dropped along the way. (Manuel et al., Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2012)
Fact: Family-trained CRAFT engaged 64% of unmotivated drinkers, versus 30% for confrontation.
Can You Force Someone Into Rehab in Florida?
Yes, in some cases. Florida’s Marchman Act lets a spouse, guardian, relative, service provider, or adult with direct knowledge petition a court for involuntary substance use treatment. The court must find the person has lost self-control over their use and either cannot judge their need for care or faces serious harm.
Since July 1, 2024, Florida has used one consolidated petition instead of separate filings for assessment and treatment. You file with the clerk of court in the county where your loved one lives. The full rules sit in Chapter 397 of the Florida Statutes.
Marchman Act Detail | What Florida Law Says |
Who can file for an adult | Spouse, legal guardian, relative, service provider, or adult with direct personal knowledge |
Key criteria | Lost self-control, plus impaired judgment or likely serious harm |
Refusing treatment alone | Not enough to qualify |
Emergency evaluation hold | Generally up to 72 hours |
Court-ordered treatment | Up to 90 days, renewable if criteria still apply |
Person’s legal rights | Right to an attorney at every stage |
NIDA principle: Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. Pressure from family, employers, or the legal system can raise entry and retention rates. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
A Marchman petition is a serious legal step. Consider speaking with the clerk’s office or an attorney first, and treat it as a safety net rather than an opening move.
Getting Someone Into Rehab With Orlando Treatment Solutions
Orlando Treatment Solutions helps families across Orlando and Central Florida move from worry to a real plan. The first call is confidential. The admissions team listens, answers questions, and arranges an assessment that decides the right starting point for your loved one.
Orlando Treatment Solutions provides outpatient care only, so clients live at home or in sober living. Programs include the Partial Hospitalization Program, the Intensive Outpatient Program, and the Dual Diagnosis Program for co-occurring anxiety or depression. The Family Therapy Program gives relatives their own space to heal.
Your loved one said yes? Call Orlando Treatment Solutions so treatment can start quickly.
FAQs
How do you get someone into rehab who does not want to go?
Start with calm, caring conversations and make a specific offer, such as attending an assessment together. Family-based approaches like CRAFT can help relatives encourage treatment without relying on confrontation. If someone faces serious substance-related risks in Florida, legal options such as the Marchman Act may also apply.
What is rehab?
Rehab is professional treatment for substance use disorder. Depending on the person’s needs, it may include medical care, group therapy, behavioral interventions, education, relapse-prevention planning, and peer support. Treatment can occur in residential, partial-hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient settings, depending on clinical needs.
Can a family member force an adult into rehab in Florida?
A family member cannot simply force an adult into rehab. Under Florida’s Marchman Act, certain relatives or other authorized parties can petition the court for assessment or treatment. A judge must determine whether the legal criteria are satisfied. Refusing treatment by itself does not automatically meet those requirements.
How long can a Marchman Act order last?
Under Florida law, court-ordered substance abuse treatment can last for a period determined by the court, subject to statutory limits and procedures. An initial treatment order may generally last up to 90 days. Extensions may be possible when legal requirements continue to be met and the court authorizes additional treatment.
Does forced rehab actually work?
Treatment does not necessarily have to be voluntary to be effective. NIDA notes that people entering treatment under external pressure, including family, workplace, or legal circumstances, can still benefit. However, treatment outcomes depend on factors such as engagement, treatment quality, individual needs, continued participation, and appropriate recovery support.
What does rehab do on a typical day?
A typical rehab day may include group therapy, behavioral-skills sessions, educational activities, recovery planning, meals, recreation, and time for personal responsibilities. The schedule varies by program and level of care. Outpatient clients generally attend scheduled services and return home afterward, while residential clients remain at the facility.
Should I hire a professional interventionist?
A professional interventionist may be helpful when repeated conversations have become confrontational, communication has broken down, or safety concerns exist. Before hiring someone, ask about their training, approach, and methods. Evidence generally favors supportive, nonconfrontational approaches such as CRAFT over coercive or confrontational intervention models.
What should I do if my loved one is in danger right now?
Call 911 if your loved one is experiencing an overdose, serious medical emergency, immediate violence, or another life-threatening situation. For a mental health or suicide crisis in the United States, call or text 988. Do not attempt to physically restrain someone unless necessary to protect immediate safety.
Will insurance pay for rehab?
Many health insurance plans cover some substance use disorder services, but coverage, deductibles, authorization requirements, provider networks, and treatment levels vary. Before admission, contact the insurer and treatment program to verify benefits. Ask specifically about residential treatment, outpatient services, medications, therapy, deductibles, copayments, and prior authorization requirements.
Can I get help for myself if my loved one refuses treatment?
Yes. Family members can seek support even when their loved one is unwilling to enter treatment. Family therapy, CRAFT-based counseling, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and other peer-support resources can help relatives establish boundaries, manage stress, communicate more effectively, and respond to substance-related problems without taking responsibility for another person’s recovery.
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of effective treatment. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023). Treatment and recovery. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.
- Miller, W. R., Meyers, R. J., & Tonigan, J. S. (1999). Engaging the unmotivated in treatment for alcohol problems: A comparison of three strategies for intervention through family members. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(5), 688–697.
- Manuel, J. K., Austin, J. L., Miller, W. R., et al. (2012). Community reinforcement and family training: A pilot comparison of group and self-directed delivery. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 43(1), 129–136.
- The Florida Senate. (2024). Bill summary: CS/CS/HB 7021, Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
- The Florida Senate. (2025). Florida Statutes, Chapter 397, Part V: Involuntary admissions and services.
- The Florida Senate. (2024). Section 397.68112: Involuntary services; persons who may petition.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, contact Orlando Treatment Solutions or visit orlandotreatmentsolutions.com to learn about available treatment options.
