They believe not having compulsory rehabilitation options is akin to not providing services to someone with dementia, because they can't make decisions for themselves, or not using an Epipen on someone having an anaphylactic reaction because they couldn't consent.

While the families are extremely concerned for the fate of their children, they're also concerned for the safety of the community.

Mary is worried her 26-year-old son will die before he's able to get the help he needs.

"We don't believe our son has the luxury of time, at this rate he'll be lucky to reach 40," Mary said.

"He wants to get help but he's fearful. He goes so far but he doesn't take that last step."

Mary said they love their son and know him better than anybody else.

"And we know he's not right in the head, we know in the past there were mental health issues that haven't been diagnosed."

Judy's 39-year-old son is a paranoid schizophrenic.

"When he was first diagnosed, we lived in the country," Mary said.

"I'd be taking him to mental health and then to the drug services but he was so paranoid, he thought everyone was against him."

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"That's what you're fighting against. They're terrified and if you think about it, if someone was in your ear all the time telling you something, you wouldn't know who to trust or where to go."

Mary said she believes it's too late for her son to get the help he needs.

"We might have had half a chance 10 years ago, but now he is so brain addled."

She's speaking up to help people in Mary's situation, whose son does have the chance to recover.

Despite the desperation of these women, the ACT drug court's first judge Lorraine Walker said she doesn't think compulsory rehabilitation is the answer.

"If you think about how rehabilitation works in the substance abuse field, the old adage of you can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink comes to mind," Acting Justice Walker said.

"You can't make someone change their way of thinking and their behaviour unless they are prepared or able to do that."

The Supreme Court drug sentencing list works in a way where the offender chooses between full-time imprisonment or rehabilitation in the community.

"It's a degree of compulsion in the sense that the person is looking at a less worse option."

However, it requires the person to have come into contact with the criminal justice system, and that's not something Mary or Judy want for their sons.

Canberra Liberals spokeswoman for families, youth and community services Elizabeth Kikkert said the government should consult experts on models for compulsory therapeutic drug treatment for young people with complex addiction issues.

"We know there are devastating gaps in rehabilitation and other drug and alcohol services for young people in the community," Mrs Kikkert said.

"Parents are all too aware of these gaps and then, in many cases, struggle to know what they can do when their affected children refuse help.

"This has left many families feeling afraid and helpless, watching their children engage in a downward spiral of self-destruction they have no hope of reversing."

She said the ACT should be open to looking at all options, to help address the need.