I’ve been working in addiction recovery for over 30 years. In that time, so many barriers that used to prevent people from getting treatment have been removed. And yet, in 2024, roughly 1 in 5 of the people who needed addiction treatment received it (according to SAMHSA).

We’ve always known that the main barrier was willingness to receive treatment and according to another study (also by SAMHSA), 59% of people who needed but didn’t receive treatment in 2024 cited the fact that they “weren’t ready to stop” as a factor.

Help is more available than ever before

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, there has never been a better time to get help. The logistics are simpler than you think.

There is an outdated impression of addiction treatment where the person puts their life on hold and disappears into a hospital-like facility for 30 days. Today, outpatient programs allow professionals to continue working while in treatment. There’s no hospital admission or extended absence to explain. 

Many drug rehab programs now offer telehealth and virtual intensive outpatient options (structured group and individual therapy sessions conducted over video), meaning someone can complete a session or possibly several hours of therapeutic activities from home without a commute. Online intake forms and same-day assessments mean you can go from “I think I need help” to a clinical evaluation within hours, not weeks. 

Insurance coverage has improved dramatically

The Affordable Care Act changed the landscape by requiring insurers to treat substance use disorders on par with physical healt conditions. That parity mandate matters. More insurers now cover outpatient treatment without requiring prior authorization, meaning fewer administrative hurdles before a person can actually start getting better.

The stigma is lifting, especially for professionals

As someone who has battled stigma for decades, this is the shift I find most encouraging. Workplace Employee Assistance Programs are actively promoting treatment resources. Executives, physicians, and attorneys are finally talking openly about their own recovery in ways that would have caused them professional backlash in years past. 

When leaders are willing to talk about it, other professionals feel less alone and more willing to reach out before a problem becomes a crisis.

Information is readily available

Years ago, families in crisis had almost no way to evaluate a program before committing to it. Now, you can verify credentials, read reviews, and confirm accreditation in minutes. When my team at Confidential Recovery pursued JCAHO accreditation (a rigorous, independent review process that certifies a program meets national standards for quality and safety), it was precisely because informed clients and families deserve that kind of third-party validation. That level of transparency is now the expectation, not the exception. Families can research options on behalf of a loved one before ever making a phone call.

What about the person who needs recovery but isn’t ready?

If your loved one isn’t ready, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. As a family crisis coach, I’ve worked with hundreds of families in exactly this situation, and the most important thing I can tell you is this: don’t wait for rock bottom. 

A trained drug counsellor or professional interventionist can help your family take structured, compassionate steps that move a resistant person closer to saying yes. An intervention isn’t an ambush. Done well, it’s a carefully planned conversation guided by someone who understands the psychology of addiction and how families can speak with one voice without triggering defensiveness or denial. If you’re not sure where to start, call a professional first. That single phone call can change the entire trajectory of what happens next.

The tools are there. The coverage is there. The information is there. What I keep coming back to is this: the only thing standing between most people and getting help is the belief that it’s harder than it actually is.

It isn’t. Not anymore.

Scott H. Silverman is a best-selling author whose new book, “You’re Not God, That Job is Taken,” is now available. He is also a family crisis coach and interventionist who speaks frequently about addiction and recovery on television and at public appearances, helping individuals and families move past crisis and onto the road to recovery. You can learn more about Scott on his personal website, and visit Confidential Recovery, the San Diego outpatient drug rehab programme for professionals that he founded in 2014.