How to Commit Someone for Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a powerful vortex that encompasses not only the addict, but everyone in his life. Loved ones must sit back and watch the addict's life spiral further and further out of control. Depending on the state, it can be difficult or nearly impossible to have a loved one involuntarily committed; in any case, committal rarely lasts more than 72 hours before the addict is released. This leaves family members with misunderstanding, rage and, above all, frustration about how they can help their loved one get help for addiction.

Things You'll Need

• N/A

Show More

Instructions

Understanding Addiction

• 1

  Be aware of the fact that until an addict is ready to stop using drugs, nothing anyone forces her to do will be effective. The best weapon in helping your loved one fight addiction is to understand and try to empathize with her condition.

• 2

  Narconon's website describes the pattern of addiction as "an individual using drugs to escape something occurring in his/her life. As the drug helps them evade the negative feelings of their situation, they continue to use the drug, then their bodies experience altered chemical states (Reference 1)." Knowing the particular drug to which your loved one is addicted is vital, because not all drugs have both physical and psychological effects. Withdrawal from drugs that cause physical addiction can be especially difficult or even life-threatening.

• 3

  Whatever the addict's drug of choice, there are outreach programs specifically designed to help family members cope with their loved one's addiction.

• 4

  Once you have spoken to your local outreach center, attend one of their support groups and speak to other family members that have gone through the same thing as you.

• 5

  Confronting the addict is vital to help him understand he is not alone in his suffering and make him aware of how his addiction is affecting not only his own life, but also the lives of his loved ones.

• 6

  In most states, you can have an individual taken into custody and brought to a crisis center for evaluation if you can show that they pose a threat to themselves or others. The law is controversial and usually ineffective, because most states require the addict be evaluated within 72 hours, at which point they are free to leave the center, according to NAMI.org.

  Proof that an individual is a threat to himself or others depends upon the officers or crisis team sent to evaluate the claim. NAMI states that this involuntary commitment process is failing those who truly need it. In most cases, the individual can talk their way out of involuntary commitment, ether initially or within the 72 hour period.

  If the addict is "dually diagnosed," meaning they are substance abusers as well as mentally ill, it might be easier to involuntarily commit them by calling 911 or a crisis center that is designed to treat this population.