The application can be made by family, relative, spouse, friend, or any other party. If the individual qualifies for forced rehab, they may be committed to 60 to 360 days, depending on the nature of the petition. Involuntary commitment laws, which allow individuals to be forced into rehab, vary by state. Currently, 37 states in the U.S. have such laws for addiction treatment.
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According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, only 11%, that’s 2.6 million out of 23.9 million people with substance abuse addictions get the help they need. Court-ordered rehab may seem forced, like making a person do something against their will; however, forced rehab has saved many lives and stands as one of the best help for addiction. One can use the support of the law to make someone go to rehab to help them.
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If you’ve chosen to enter rehab or have been required to, you might wonder if you can leave early. However, this decision is often discouraged and can increase the risk of relapse, or falling back into substance use habits. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers. Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions.
How to Commit Someone to Rehab Involuntarily
If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, you may be wondering if you can “force” them to go to rehab. In some states, there may be ways to get your loved one into care through involuntary commitment laws. There are other methods that, while not technically outright “force,” can at least nudge an addict or an alcoholic toward treatment. Interventions, for example, have been used successfully in a number of different circumstances. Interventions are, in short, gatherings of family members and loved ones who confront – in a calm, loving and supportive way – the addict or alcoholic about his or her problem. Involuntary commitment isn’t something to take lightly, but it can be a life-saving measure for people with severe addictions.
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The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. In a survey of Americans aged 12 and older, nearly 20% of respondents reported how to get a family member into rehab that they had misused prescription drugs or used illicit drugs within the past year. When alcohol is added to the mix, more than 60% of Americans 12 years of age and older currently abuse drugs, which is defined as drug abuse occurring within the past 30 days. While they may be making self-destructive decisions, it’s their right to make such decisions—especially if they are not under any guardianship or conservatorship.
A court-ordered rehab is not the easiest path to take, but it is an option. Your child may feel betrayed or angry with you for turning them in which will be unavoidable. You must also seek legal counsel before pursuing this to ensure a court-ordered rehab is executed. Qualifications vary from state-to-state which makes it imperative to seek guidance beforehand.
The Marchman Act enables an individual to be forced to have their situation assessed and possibly into treatment for substance use disorder against their own will. Also, if the loved one is so under the influence of drugs that they cannot recognize that they desperately need treatment. If you are not a Florida resident and are looking for ways to help a loved one with mental health or substance abuse issues, and they will not receive help voluntarily, look into the requirements for AOT in your state.
- Under the Bakers Act law, judges, law enforcement personnel, physicians, or mental health professionals can initiate the involuntary treatment of an individual upon presentation of reliable evidence.
- You must also seek legal counsel before pursuing this to ensure a court-ordered rehab is executed.
- While this opportunity can seem like a good alternative for someone who refuses to get care, this isn’t usually the case.
However, the effectiveness of involuntary rehab depends heavily on the individual’s readiness for recovery. In cases where someone is forced into treatment, the desire for change may be lacking, which can affect their long-term success. Ideally, voluntary rehab with the right support system is more effective because the person is more likely to be motivated to engage in the process. 5 out of these 38 states include substance abuse and alcoholism as a mental health disorder. In contrast, the other 33 states have different provisions for patients of substance abuse, alcoholism, and mental health disorders.
Treatment
According to this study about the impediments to the success of involuntary treatment, coercive treatment has many challenges which need to be addressed to ensure successful treatment. However, when someone who clearly needs professional help isn’t getting it, the urge to force them becomes evident. Under these circumstances, it may be tempting to use blackmail, guilt, or bribery to try to make a point.
There are numerous options when considering how to get Drug rehabilitation your child into rehab. Even if a person is not willing to accept help initially, there are ways to improve their receptiveness to treatment options. You can proceed with forced rehab options or an intervention to provide them with the opportunity to accept help themselves. Rehab is more effective when a person becomes willing to accept help and take active steps to achieve sobriety. Regardless of the method you choose, getting your child into a situation where they can assess their situation without the influence of drugs and alcohol is an important step to take in the recovery process. Another act that could help you admit your loved one into rehab if you live in Florida is the Marchman Act.