The laws in the United States basically make it impossible for you to get your loved one the help that they need unless something truly terrible happens. There are many ways that someone’s drug or alcohol use can affect them in the long term. For example, long-term alcohol abuse can result in irreversible liver damage and cocaine Twelve-step program use can damage the septum, this can cause the nose to collapse, which will require surgery to correct. By forcing someone into treatment for their alcohol or drug use, they can potentially prevent them from suffering these long-term consequences. Another reason that someone may want to intervene when a loved one is struggling with addiction is because they feel obligated to do so. They feel that if they don’t do something, even something as drastic as forcing a person they love into detox and rehab, then they may one day find out that that loved one has overdosed.

• We’ve seen families lose a petition because the court required a psychiatric evaluation that wasn’t ordered.
• Patients who are court-ordered into rehab, unwilling, unhappy, and resistant to treatment that have many years clean and sober today.
• In these cases, it will be necessary for the petitioner to present evidence to support their claim.
• Committing to rehab can sometimes feel like a punishment for a person struggling with addiction.
• Getting families involved through education and counseling can help fix relationships addiction has damaged.

Info for your family and friends

Helping a person achieve the clarity of mind free from the effects of mind and mood-altering substances can help them realize the need for treatment. Even if forced rehab is not successful, it puts them in a situation where they must consider their options and assess their situation, which is a vital first step. Because individual rights are important, too, these laws require that evidence be presented to demonstrate how desperate the situation is.

Behavioural Addictions

The Baker Act is how to get someone into rehab a Florida law that allows for the involuntary commitment to a psychiatric facility for the evaluation and treatment of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. To a lot of people, that may seem draconian, but for those who have experience with the ways in which addicts and alcoholics put their families through emotional distress, it’s completely understandable. Reaching Out for Help While the thought of needing emergency psychiatric care for a loved one is daunting, understanding that there are legal avenues for help offers some comfort. For those dealing with substance use alongside mental health challenges, seeking support is a critical step towards recovery. If you are hoping to “force” someone you care about into rehab, this could be possible, but it is not as simple as many would hope. Just being concerned about someone’s drug or alcohol use is not enough.

• This is because everyone wants the best for their families and loved ones.
• In some cases, outpatient treatment may be ordered, which will require the person to have a safe place to live and support at home to be successful.
• If they decide to leave once they are in rehab, there is no way of keeping them there against their will.
• Learning how to communicate openly and honestly is one of the first things taught in rehab.

You Can’t Force Someone Into Recovery

In such cases, the drug or alcohol treatment offered is usually provided on a community-based or outpatient basis, whereas most people think of residential treatment when they think of rehab. Under limited circumstances, there may be a legal pathway for how to commit someone to rehab. However, this generally involves an individual with an addiction getting in legal trouble or being involuntarily committed due to a co-occurring mental health disorder.

• They can help you check that the facility’s intake meets the court’s requirements and that the transition is smooth.
• In many states, the court can order a treatment program if the family can show that the person’s addiction endangers their health or safety.
• The information provided by Addiction Center is not a substitute for professional treatment advice.
• The most effective way to confront a person struggling with an addiction is with an intervention.

Our Quality Commitment

Most states also require proof that the individual has refused voluntary treatment or is incapable of making informed decisions due to their substance use disorder. This is markedly different if someone is under the age of 18. If a person is still a minor, then their parent or legal guardian does have the right to make decisions for them, including where and if they get treatment. Essentially, the states allow parents to force their children into inpatient treatment for substance abuse and mental health if that’s what they think is best. The legal process typically involves filing a petition with the court that provides evidence of the person’s condition.