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Hello lisa,   I am sorry to hear this and understand your frustration.   The key is that you have to stop trying to convince someone he is ill and needs medication.   I will tell you what I tell everyone who asks the same question you are asking now.  Refer back to my SharePosts in which I interview Dr. Xavier Amadoor, who has helped tens of thousands of people just like you.  Go to the upper right of this page, and type in "Xavier Amador" in the search box and make sure "site" is clicked off.  You can read my Q&A with him as a preview.   Immediately:  Buy Dr. Amador's book, I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help (the 2007 updated edition) and read it, especially the section that relates to how to couch what you say so the person will listen to you.   The key is, you need to establish a relationship of trust with the stepson so that he feels comfortable talking with you.  Use the Amador technique, "motivational intervieweing," to link his goals in life to how getting treatment will enable him to achieve the goals.   If he lacks motivation or can't articulate a goal, that could be a "negative symptom" of the schizophrenia, so don't take it personally that he's being lazy or wilfully disregarding treatment.   A refusal to take meds often happens when the person lacks insight that he has an illness.   This lack of insight is called anosognosia, and is a symptom of the schizoprhenia.   I recommend the Amador book to everyone who writes in with this frustration.  I will continue to recommend it to the next person who writes in (because I'm certain there will be a next person after you.)   There's no quick solution or reveersal.  It's not like you have to be able to change the stepson's mind by tomorrow or next Monday.  So reading the Amador book and then formulating a strategy based on the techniques of the book is a good first step in influencing the stepson.   I do not get paid to recommend this book.  I have read the book.  I bought it and interviewed Amador for this Web site.   So please be open to considering and using his techniques, such as LEAP (listen-empathize-agree-partner).   Best regards, Chri