The simplest answer to this question is “yes.” However, it’s far from being that simple. As a parent, you have the responsibility of caring for your child and ensuring they receive the medical attention they need. If you’ve found yourself wondering “can I force my teenager into rehab?” here’s what you should know.
The Court Will Likely Be Involved
As a parent, you have the power to push your child into medical treatments. When your child is small, you’re in charge of all medical decisions. But as your child grows up and gains some autonomy, making medical decisions on their behalf becomes more challenging. There’s nothing wrong with this because it protects some children from abusive situations. However, it also makes it difficult for parents to get their child the medical support they needed when there really is a problem.
In most cases, you’ll need to involve the family court system in order to force your child into rehab if they do not want to go. Ideally, you and your child will be able to reach an agreement, and he or she will understand that rehab will be a beneficial experience and not a punishment.
Rehab is a Better Option that Prison
A lot of parents feel guilty about forcing their teenager to seek treatment. They wonder “can I force my teenager into rehab?” but they actually feel bad that they need to force their child to do anything.
The truth is, rehab is a tool that will help your child avoid many difficult circumstances that addicts often find themselves in. All too often, people who failed to get the treatment they needed end up in legal trouble. For many, this is a cycle that continues to repeat itself. You can avoid a future filled with legal problems for your child by asking “can I force my teenager into rehab?” before the problems gets much worse.
