Families Need Help Reaching Addicted Loved Ones
Even those blessed with the gift of gab can find themselves at a loss for how to start difficult conversations. For example, you may have no idea what to say to reach someone struggling with a substance use disorder. But with the crisis level of the U.S. drug epidemic at an all-time high, your timely response can make the difference between convincing someone you love to get help and allowing their behavior to become even more self-destructive.
Is It Time to Organize an Intervention?
Denial is a leading characteristic of addiction. You might already have tried several times to approach a friend or family member, only to encounter stubborn refusal or rejection of the idea of getting help for a substance problem. Your loved one may offer excuses like “I can quit anytime I want to,” or they could angrily end the conversation and walk away. Families can become paralyzed when dealing with a loved one’s addiction and often need expert guidance to steer the conversation to an effective solution.
If these scenarios sound familiar, it might be time to consider a professionally planned and managed intervention. For families who decide to go this route, an intervention specialist can play an essential role in helping them stage a drug or mental health intervention and suggest some proven treatment options along the way. However, sometimes even a well-orchestrated intervention is not enough to break through the carefully constructed wall of negativity. In cases when a family has tried more traditional intervention approaches, we still have other tools available to get someone the therapies they may desperately need.
Can You Compel Someone to Get Treatment?
In a perfect world, everyone living with a substance use disorder would eventually admit that their isolation and hopelessness are unsustainable, willingly undergo an addiction evaluation from qualified professionals and start their treatment and recovery journey. Unfortunately, waiting for your loved one to seek help for a potentially life-threatening illness that affects decision-making abilities can have tragic consequences.
The prevalence of street drugs laced with potent substances like fentanyl and xylazine have dramatically increased the addiction and overdose rate in recent years. Most people hooked on these drugs lack the resources and support to safely quit on their own. In many cases, court-mandated treatment has proven to be the only way to get some addicted individuals lifesaving treatment.
Florida’s Marchman Act, one of the most progressive laws of its kind in the U.S., offers a path to get someone who cannot recognize the extent of their illness into a rehab center. Though this law encourages people to voluntarily get help, it also provides a way to have them involuntarily committed to a facility for evaluation, stabilization and treatment.
How Does the Marchman Act Work?
The Marchman Act allows concerned loved ones to petition the court to have someone committed for a substance use disorder for up to 90 days if they have reasons to believe it is warranted. However, they must have evidence proving the person lacks the ability to make responsible decisions, cannot appreciate the severity of their substance problem and is at risk of harming themselves or others due to their use of alcohol or drugs.
Ask for Help Today
Contrary to misconceptions, research indicates involuntary addiction treatment can be just as effective as voluntary admission. Every tool is worth exploring when you are desperate to help a loved one break the cycle of drug and alcohol abuse. R&A Therapeutic Partners can guide you through the process of involuntary treatment through the Marchman Act. We also have a network of attorneys who specialize in Marchman cases when the situation is more complicated and requires a legal expert. Contact our highly qualified interventionists today to schedule your consultation.
At R&A Therapeutic Partners Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno specialize in substance use and mental health disorder evaluations, treatment, intervention and therapeutic/educational consulting for clients throughout the greater South Florida area, as well as nationally and internationally. For more resources and information please visit Therapeutic-Partners.com or on Facebook.
