When someone you care about refuses rehab, the next step can be a conversation about what help they would consider. You can prepare questions and offer practical assistance without deciding their treatment for them.
This guide concerns supporting an adult. For a child or young person, ask a GP or youth alcohol and drug service about age-appropriate care and family involvement.
Check safety before discussing rehab
If someone is seriously unwell, unresponsive, struggling to breathe or at immediate risk of harm, call 000. If you are unsafe, move to safety before calling. Healthdirect explains when urgent help is needed.
An emergency needs emergency help; a directory enquiry is not an emergency response.
Ask what makes help difficult
Ask what worries them about seeking help, rather than assuming you know why they are declining. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation recommends calm, respectful questions and listening.
You could ask: "What would you want to understand before speaking with a service?" Keep a short list of their questions, using their own priorities. These might concern work, children, privacy, medication, travel or payment. These are prompts to explore, not assumptions about their situation.
Try separating the questions:
Offer a first conversation with a professional
The Australian Government's treatment information describes a range of support options and suggests a doctor or alcohol and drug service when someone is unsure what they need.
Ask whether they would like help making that contact. A residential booking does not have to be the first task. The clinician or treatment service can discuss appropriate care; RehabFinder cannot assess clinical suitability.
If they want to explore residential care, use our GP referral guide to prepare questions about the provider's process.
Turn barriers into questions for the service
With the person's agreement, organise an enquiry around what still needs an answer:
Use the admission enquiry checklist to record answers. Mark unconfirmed details as outstanding. Confirm availability directly before making travel or booking commitments.
If they still do not want help
Healthdirect advises avoiding nagging, guilt, bribes and threats. You can seek support for yourself even if the person does not seek treatment.
Work through realistic boundaries with a counsellor or family support service. A boundary should explain what you can safely offer. Do not use this article as a plan to provoke a crisis or make someone lose their home or job.
If you are worried about decision-making capacity, consent or a situation requiring urgent assessment, contact an appropriate health service. A family member's request or a directory listing does not establish authority for an involuntary admission. This guide does not determine legal eligibility.
Keep your own support separate from their decision
You can ask for help with your wellbeing and the practical effects on your family. The Australian Government lists Family Drug Support on 1300 368 186, with a national 24-hour support line.
The National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline, 1800 250 015, offers free, confidential information and routes callers to their state or territory service. The Department lists 24-hour access, with South Australian service hours of 8.30 am–10 pm.
When the person wants to compare options, browse treatment services together. For planning the conversation itself, see our family intervention guide.