Every minute that an addict puts off going to rehab is a minute closer to tragedy. As almost everyone knows, misfortune follows an addicted person like a dark shadow, waiting for the smallest misstep to spread heartbreak in the lives of family and friends. It's a tough decision, but you just can't wait to make the move into drug rehab.

There are an endless number of ways that disaster strikes at drug and alcohol dependent people and their families. Stories in the media and tales of woe from friends and acquaintances attest to that fact.

A single traffic accident under the influence can lead to arrest, courts, fines and jail. And accidents can result in injuries, hospitals, loss of income, loss of a home, disrupted families and even fatalities and no future at all.

Overdoses are not uncommon, leading to injuries and death among both alcohol and drug abusers. You've heard about overdose deaths on a single drug, but you may not be as familiar with overdose associated with drug and alcohol combinations. The truth is there are more injuries and deaths from bad substance combinations than from single-substance overdoses. This happens often because someone already high or stoned is not making good decisions – something that is obvious since they have not made the one good decision they should make – to get into rehab.

There are plenty of other ways an addict can prematurely throw their life and the lives of the people they care for into the center of a tornado of trouble and grief. Drug rehab really is the action that can prevent such a destructive storm from happening to themselves and their loved ones.

Substance abuse in itself is just an accident waiting to happen. So drug rehab cannot come too soon.

A study among alcoholics – and it is likely true for drug addicts as well – found the two factors that monitor the success of rehab are how soon an addict enters rehab after the addiction starts, and how long the addict remains in the rehab program. The study clearly showed that the earlier an addict entered drug rehab after becoming addicted, the more successful it was – regardless of the kind of program. And the longer the addicted person continued with their drug rehab program, the more successful it was. Addicts entering the same program who entered after their addiction had been going on for a longer time, or who didn't stay as long as other were far more likely to relapse and start drinking again.

The facts are obvious, and you need to take them to heart. It's foolish to put off getting yourself or your loved one into rehab. The earlier rehab is started, the higher the chances of avoiding tragedy, and the higher the chances of the addict having a normal life. So don’t put it off. Get you or your loved one into a successful alcohol and drug rehab program without delay.