All Hope Is Not Lost for Your Loved One with an Addiction

The destruction caused by addiction harms more than just the addict. Friends, spouses, children, siblings, and parents can see their entire lives fall apart in the wake of an addict's actions. If someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you may think you've run out of options. At Addiction Recovery Legal Services, LLC, our job is to show you that you still have options, and how to exercise them.

When Addicts Are In Denial

Court ordered addiction rehab sounds like a drastic step, and it is. However, for addicts who are in denial about how their addiction harms them and those who love them, court ordered addiction treatment may be the only way to ensure addicts receive treatment. Just because you have not been able to get your loved one into treatment doesn't mean all hope is lost.

When Interventions Don't Work

Sometimes interventions work, and sometimes they fail spectacularly. If you have tried an intervention with an addict you love and it has failed, it doesn't mean that you have failed. Court ordered addiction rehab is still an option, and sometimes addicts lose their denial and voluntarily enter rehab when faced with court ordered addiction treatment. If they don't voluntarily go, the courts may legally compel them to go or face serious consequences.

You Have Legal Options through the Courts

The Marchman Act allows relatives or friends of addicts to petition the court to force an addict into treatment. Before sending an addict to treatment, a judge will order a short term evaluation and await the recommendations from that evaluation. If the professionals who evaluate the addict believe that court ordered addiction treatment is necessary, a judge can send an addict into treatment for at least 60 days.

The Marchaman Act Imposes Real Consequences

The Marchman Act has "teeth." Addicts who leave treatment early or refuse to enter treatment can be incarcerated. Using the Marchman Act to help an addict is a big step, but sometimes it's the only thing you can do. At Addiction Recovery Legal Services, LLC, we have extensive experience helping families and friends help loved ones get the lifesaving treatment they need.

Health Care Reform Could Affect Marchman Act Cases

According to AP reports, only one cent of every dollar spent on health care in the United States is used for addiction treatment, and only about 10% of Americans struggling with drug or alcohol addiction receive treatment. Health care reform is expected to affect addiction treatment significantly. At Addiction Recovery Legal Services, we can help you understand the process of court-ordered addiction treatment in light of expected changes.

Many More People Could Seek Treatment in 2014

Few health care services will be affected more radically than addiction treatment in 2014 when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect. The current addiction treatment system in the US was built when the understanding of addictions was very different than what medical professionals know today. When the number of insured individuals increases, expect the numbers of people in addiction treatment to increase significantly as a result.

Bed Availability Is Already an Issue in Some Locations

Many treatment facilities remain at or near capacity currently, and one of the snags in the current Marchman Act process for petitioning for court-ordered drug treatment is bed availability when treatment is ordered. At the same time, government budget cuts have led to shrinking treatment facilities, so bed availability issues are expected to worsen as more people are able to seek treatment.

Postponing Helping a Loved One Could Make Things Worse

If someone you love is slowly losing a battle wtih addiction, perhaps it's time to petition the court for forced drug treatment. It's a big step and not to be taken lightly, but waiting can mean the difference between life and death. If nothing else, acting now could help place your loved one on a waiting list before changes in health care laws make those lists even longer.

Do You Need Guidance with Marchman Act Procedures?

If you need help understanding how to use the Marchman Act, working with an attorney experienced in the process can help tremendously. At Addiction Recovery Legal Services, we have been shepherding people through the process for many years and know how to get results under the Marchman Act. If someone you love is crippled by addiction, now may be the best time to act.