If you have a friend or family member that has a narcotic problem, you may wonder how court ordered cocaine abuse treatment works. It would be nice to think that a court can put this person in rehab and force them through treatment, and in some cases that may be true, but it doesn't always work that way. A person needs to be the right candidate for such an order before it is made by the court, and there are many factors the courts take into consideration. Before you assume that this is the best choice for your family member, consider the following.
Requirements for Consideration
Using cocaine doesn't actually qualify a person for court-ordered treatment. While cocaine use is illegal, a person caught using it or that has used it in the past isn't going to automatically be put in treatment. The person must be to the point where they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves or are a danger to themselves and to others. This is one of the first requirements for court ordered cocaine abuse treatment.
Assessment
Whenever a case arises regarding a court ordered rehab, the person will need to be put through an assessment by a neutral third party. This assessment will take into consideration the level of their addiction, as well as their ability to care for themselves. Recreational drug users are not automatically going to be candidates for court ordered addiction treatment, and this assessment will determine the extent of their abuse and their mental state overall.
This means that someone who has used cocaine or other narcotics for recreational purposes or who occasionally smokes marijuana is not necessarily going to be sent to rehab by the courts. However, if they do have a serious problem and have become dangerous, there is help available. The courts can force them into rehab and monitor their progress while there. If you feel your family member has a serious problem with drug addiction, you would do well to speak to an attorney about court ordered addiction treatment.
