Ask Me Help Desk - My best friend is a crack addict

How and from where can I get legal help to submit my friend to a rehab center?
She is 25 and because she is an adult I or her mother can't get her to go to a rehab center on her own but I was thinking that maybe legally she could be submitted to a rehab, please help?

I am very sorry to hear about your friend. Worse still, in the US (I don't know where you live) this is a land of rights and just as you say she is an adult. She has the right to kill herself with drugs if she so chooses. That is what you are up against -- a hard truth but real.

The only forced action possible is under the Marchman Act here in Florida (it may be called something different in other states) -- its usually a three-day stay in a detox ward and used as a last ditch effort on those who are killing themselves with an addiction. It requires a doctor and a family member to execute it. Bear in mind, I have seen many people released from this who were simply enraged and resumed their path of self destruction without missing a beat.

At the local detox here, if the person shows the correct attitude, they may be offered further treatment, which is an in-house 21 day stay but they must go through detox first. Again, I have seen many people come from there and use in the first 24 hours too.

This is why it is stressed that the person afflicted seek the help. Where is she in this mix? Does she admit there is a problem? Its long been established that its not possible to help someone who refuses help. For those of you who love her, it may be wise to seek out "Narc Anon" (an organization for friends and family of drug addicts), if they are available in your area. They may not be. Do not confuse them with a group called Narconon - that is something (? ) that is part of scientology! If not, seek out Al Anon (for friends and family of alcoholics) instead. I think its important to learn how this can affect you all too. It is there you would learn what to do and not do concerning your friendship with her.

Lastly I would add that its important to have what I call "appropriate" hope. Hope that recognizes the active addiction and how dangerous she is as a result of it (it may be necessary for you to protect yourself from her too) but also recognizes that as long as she is alive, there is a valid hope she will hit bottom and sincerely seek help. Listen to her actions more than her words about that, if and when the time comes. For all your sakes, I hope it comes.

Question does your friend have a child or children? There is the issue of child endangerment... and the laws supporting the issues of child protection. If,. so you have a way for getting your friend some help... contact child protective services in your county, city or town... file a complaint... I know you will feel like a traitor... but the issues are... do you love this person... do you want to see her/him tomorrow well... save a life... crack addiction will always be an issue in this person life... an addict life will be a drain on you and the child or the children... this suggestion will work... only if she has children... also,. you can contact all interested family and create an intervention with an official representative from a rehab clinic or center.. contact AAA or NA for further information... help is just around the corner if you are willing to go through the drama...

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Originally Posted by LUNAGODDESS

you can contact all interested family and create an intervention with an official representative from a rehab clinic or center..contact AAA or NA for further information ...help is just around the corner if you are willing to go through the drama...

Just for the record, AA and NA do not engage in interventions-- they consider it an "outside issue" and make no comments on them. Since I am standing outside of AA now, I can tell you intervention is anti-thematic to the whole 12-step process since its very firmly based on the person already hitting bottom.

Interventions are strictly from the domain of treatment centers and best to be run by an experienced professional as they are risky business when done with an adult nobody can actually control. As insurance money began to dry up in the early 90's, I see less and less of them occurring in the field.

Additionally, with all due respect to Lunagoddess meaning well, I would only call and report child endangerment to save a child from harm. Expecting a by-product of it to be the addict hitting bottom is also highly unpredictable by my estimation.

I feel your pain but sadly you cannot save an addict from themselves and they will rebel if you push to hard. Protect yourself and the children involved as we are dangerous people and destroy lives without thinking. Unless they get so sick and tired of themselves (the bottom) and want to change, they never will. Protect yourselves.