Can You Force Someone To Go To Rehab in New Jersey?

If your loved one is suffering from addiction, you are not alone. According to a study, “46% of U.S. adults say they have a family member or close friend who is addicted to drugs or has been in the past.”[1]

Watching your friend or family member struggle with a substance use disorder is never easy. You might lie awake at night wondering if they made it home or even alive. Because it is extremely distressing and even traumatic, you could be wondering what you can do to help them.

While it is always best for the individual to choose to help themselves, sometimes people need a little push. The state of New Jersey has involuntary commitment laws that allow you to force someone into rehab if they are a danger to themselves or others.

In this article, you will learn:

• Can you force someone in New Jersey to attend addiction treatment?
• Who pays for involuntary rehab?
• Does forced rehab actually help people get sober?
• What are the signs that your loved one needs involuntary treatment?

Can You Force Someone To Go To Addiction Treatment in New Jersey?

While it is possible to force someone into rehab in New Jersey, there are some qualifications you must meet. Additionally, their substance abuse must be severe for the court to move forward with involuntary commitment.

The first step in forcing someone to attend rehab in New Jersey is obtaining proof of your loved one’s drug or alcohol abuse. You could use a referral from a doctor or a mental health professional or past treatment records. In certain cases, a statement or a description of your loved one’s substance abuse will be enough.

In addition to providing proof of their addiction, you might also have to show that they are a danger to themselves or others. You might have to prove that your loved one is incapacitated to the point that they are unable to make sound decisions for themselves.[2]

Once you have the evidence prepared, you will have to file a petition with the New Jersey courts. Because a hearing will take place to determine if involuntary commitment is going to move forward, you might need the assistance of a lawyer. If the judge grants involuntary commitment, your loved one will undergo an assessment within 48 hours that determines whether they meet the criteria for inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Who Pays for Involuntary Rehab in New Jersey?

If your loved one is forced into rehab under a court order, you might be worried about covering the costs of treatment. While some states require the family to pay for rehab, New Jersey covers 90% of the cost of treatment when you involuntarily commit someone.[4] In other words, your loved one or the family is only responsible for 10% of the cost.

The portion of the cost that your loved one is responsible for might be covered by health insurance. If you choose a substance abuse treatment center that is in-network, you may only have to pay co-pays.

That said, you will be responsible for paying any court fees you incurred during the legal process of forcing your loved one into an addiction treatment program.

Does Involuntary Commitment Work?

You should only use involuntary commitment as a last-ditch effort. To explain, you should try to convince your loved one to attend rehab on their own, give them time to make the decision and consider hosting an intervention before forcing someone into treatment. Additionally, their addiction must pose a danger to their health for involuntary commitment to be the right move.

That said, if your loved one is struggling with addiction and is forced into rehab, they can recover. While they might resist the help at first, over time, therapy will begin to change the way they look at sobriety.

It is important to note that involuntary commitment does not work for everyone. However, simply experiencing rehab could make your loved one more likely to seek it out later on. In other words, even if forcing them into rehab does not work at first, it might be beneficial in the future.

Signs Your Loved One Needs Involuntary Drug Rehab

If your loved one refuses to seek treatment on their own, you might have to force them into a rehab program. However, you must do this at the right time and avoid forcing someone into a treatment facility before they are ready.

The signs that your loved one needs involuntary addiction treatment include:

• Experiencing drug overdoses
• Dealing with severe co-occurring mental health disorders
• Becoming a danger to themselves or others due to the behaviors caused by drugs and alcohol
• Getting into risky situations or legal trouble frequently
• Experiencing significant physical health consequences of drug and alcohol abuse
• Dealing with dangerous withdrawal symptoms that require medical intervention

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Addiction Treatment Center

If you are considering forcing your loved one into rehab, you want to choose a program that suits their needs. At Lifetime Recovery Center, we offer a variety of treatment options to ensure our clients get the care they need. The medical professionals and addiction experts who work at our facility are highly trained and experienced, which means your loved one will receive the best care possible.

Contact us today for more information on involuntary commitment in New Jersey.