✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. David T. Gigliotti, DO, FASAM, Medical Director · Reviewed October 16, 2026
One of the most practical ways to help a family member get into addiction treatment is to make the first call yourself, learn what the options are, and then bring that information to your loved one at a calm moment. You do not need their permission to gather information. At Ripple Recovery Center, family members call on behalf of a loved one every day, and our admissions team will walk you through levels of care, insurance, and what the first appointment looks like before you say a word to the person you are worried about.
This guide covers what to say, what not to say, how admissions works, and where to call if the situation is urgent. It is written for families in Camden County and South Jersey, but most of it applies anywhere.
How do I know if my family member needs treatment?
You probably already know. Families usually see the pattern long before the person admits it. Common signs include drinking or using more than intended and more often, hiding use or lying about it, missing work or school, money problems that do not add up, mood swings, withdrawal from family life, and failed promises to cut back. If several of these are present and getting worse, the answer is usually yes.
You do not need to be certain to call. An assessment at Ripple is a conversation with a clinician who determines what level of care fits, if any. Sometimes the answer is a lower level of care than the family feared. Sometimes it is detox first. Either way, you will know.
How do I start the conversation?
A few principles hold up in most families:
- Pick a calm moment. Not during or right after use, and not in the middle of an argument. Morning is often better than night.
- Lead with what you have seen and how it affects you. “I noticed you have not been sleeping, and I am scared” lands differently than “You are an alcoholic.”
- Have a concrete next step ready. “I called a place in Cherry Hill. They can do an assessment, and they checked our insurance” is far more useful than “You need to get help.”
- Expect resistance the first time. Most people say no at first. That is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning of one.
- Do not make threats you will not keep. Boundaries work when they are real. Ultimatums that evaporate teach the opposite lesson.
SAMHSA publishes a free booklet for families, “What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families,” that explains treatment types and recovery in plain language. It is worth reading before the conversation.
What should I know about treatment before I call?
Addiction treatment is delivered at different levels, and the first thing families often need to understand is that “rehab” does not have to mean going away for a month.
| Level | What it is | Where it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Medical detox | Supervised care for the first days after stopping, when withdrawal can be dangerous | A detox facility. Ripple does not run a detox, but arranges placement with partner facilities. |
| PHP | Full-day outpatient treatment, typically 6 hours a day, several days a week, for 2 to 6 weeks | Ripple, with your loved one returning home each evening |
| IOP | 9 to 15 hours a week over 3 to 5 days, typically 6 to 12 weeks, with morning and evening options | Ripple, around work and family |
| OP | One or two sessions a week for several months | Ripple, as ongoing support |
Ripple is an outpatient provider. We offer PHP, IOP, and OP, and we help arrange detox placement when it is needed first. We do not offer residential treatment. For many families, outpatient care is the option that finally works because the person does not have to leave their job, their kids, or their home to get it.
Can I call Ripple on behalf of my family member?
Yes. You can call (856) 215-5253 or reach out online without your loved one present. The admissions team can explain levels of care, describe what an assessment involves, and check insurance if you have the card. What we cannot do is share information about a person’s treatment without their written consent. Federal privacy rules for substance use treatment are strict, and that protection is part of what makes people willing to come in.
What happens at the first appointment?
The first step is a clinical assessment. A clinician talks with your loved one about what they are using, how much and how long, their health history, mental health, living situation, and support at home. From that, the team recommends a starting level of care and explains it. If detox is needed first, Ripple helps coordinate placement with a medical detox partner and plans the outpatient step that follows. Call us and we will walk you through each admissions step and when you could start.
Will insurance cover it?
Ripple works with many major insurance plans, and coverage for outpatient treatment is common. Coverage details depend on the specific plan. You can verify insurance online or by phone, and the team handles it. Having the insurance card ready when you call speeds things up. No dollar figures are quoted here because the answer depends entirely on the plan.
What is my role once treatment starts?
More than you might expect. Family therapy and family education are part of treatment at Ripple, and families who participate learn how to support recovery without slipping into old patterns. Your role is not to police your loved one. It is to keep your own boundaries, show up for family sessions, and take care of yourself. Many family members find it helps to have their own support as well.
What if my family member refuses?
Keep the door open and keep the information ready. People often say no several times before they say yes, and the yes tends to come at a moment of consequence: a health scare, a lost job, a relationship at risk. Having the phone number and the plan already in hand means you can act the moment they are willing. In the meantime, protect yourself and any children in the home, and do not carry this alone.
Where can I call for help right now?
- Emergency: If someone is unresponsive, not breathing, or in immediate danger, call 911.
- Crisis: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
- ReachNJ: 1-844-732-2465, New Jersey’s 24/7 line that connects residents with treatment regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357, free and confidential, 24/7, in English and Spanish.
- Ripple Recovery Center: (856) 215-5253 for assessment, detox placement, and outpatient treatment in Camden County.
Help for families in Camden County and South Jersey
Ripple Recovery Center has two locations. Our Barrington office is at 630 Clements Bridge Rd, Barrington, NJ 08007. Our Cherry Hill location at 103 East Gate Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 offers PHP, IOP, and OP with free parking. We serve families in Barrington, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Voorhees, Pennsauken, and across Camden County and South Jersey.
The county’s numbers show why this matters and why hope is reasonable. Camden County reported 206 suspected drug deaths in 2024, down from 327 the year before, according to the county’s March 2025 release. Families making the call are part of that change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I force my family member into treatment?
Ripple’s programs are voluntary for adults. If someone is an immediate danger to themselves or others, call 911 or 988. Otherwise, a practical path is a calm conversation with a concrete plan ready.
Memory gaps, made-up stories that fill those gaps, and a new unsteady walk in someone who drinks heavily are not just “being drunk.” Read the early signs of wet brain so you know when it is an emergency.
Should I stage an intervention?
Some families find a planned, structured conversation helpful, especially with guidance. Others find a quiet one-on-one talk works better. Either way, have the treatment option and the phone number ready before you start.
What if my family member needs detox?
Ripple does not run a detox, but we help determine the right level of detox and coordinate placement with a trusted medical detox partner. We then have outpatient treatment ready for when detox is complete. See our guide on what detox placement means and what happens next.
Will Ripple tell me how my family member is doing?
Only with your loved one’s written consent. Federal privacy rules for substance use treatment are strict. Many clients choose to sign a release for close family, and family therapy is a built-in way to stay involved.
Can my family member keep working during treatment?
Often, yes, especially at the IOP and OP levels. IOP offers morning and evening sessions. Read more in can you keep working during outpatient treatment.
How do I take care of myself through this?
Set boundaries you can keep, accept that you cannot control another adult’s choices, and get your own support. Family education at Ripple is one place to start. SAMHSA’s family booklet is another.
Make the first call today
You do not have to wait for your family member to be ready before you learn what the options are. Call Ripple Recovery Center at (856) 215-5253 or contact us online. We will explain the levels of care, check insurance, and help you plan the conversation. You can also read how admissions works.
Ready for the next step? See how admissions works at Ripple, or verify your insurance first.