Is there a way to have someone committed to rehab or detox by force of the law?
This is a sad situation, because I’m talking about my son. He is an alcoholic by every means of the word. Breakfast, lunch,and dinner is alcohol. He is in and out of jail constantly, but never for the drinking. He has blackouts, and doesn’t remember the things he’s done. He urinates, and drinks in public. He passes out in public. He can’t keep a place to stay, or a job. I have talked to him until I am blue in the face. He won’t stop drinking. Frankly, I don’t think he can. I’m afraid I will be going to his funeral in less than two years. He has been drinking heavily for 5 years. He is 31 years old. His mom and I are divorced. They both live in Charlotte, NC. Is there something we can do to maybe get a judge to order him to get help? Are there any sources in Charlotte that we might look into? I think he is unreachable at this point. He doesn’t care. He is slowing dying, and I tell him this often. I also let him know that I love him. Isn’t there any laws to protect someone from themselves?
Tagged with: committed • Detox • force • rehab • someone • there
Filed under: Alcohol Detox and Rehab
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You should go to court and try to get the judge to sentence him rehab. This could turn into something very serious if you dont take care of it. If he is evaluated and declaired mentally ill, he will be forced to do something. Good luck.
I can’t really answer your question because i’m in the UK and I know sod all about US laws. I would I like to say however that I understand the situation you’re in, unfortunately your plight hits home with me.
I live with and am a full time carer for a man who I love very very much. He has a alcohol problem to the point of consuming 450+ units a week. He drinks from sun up till down, his criminal record is lengthening regularly and getting more serious each time. He fights in public, causes extreme embarrassment to myself, is abusive to those around him, doesn’t work, refuses to eat, looses days at a time and on several occasions urinates the bed in his unconsous state (not sleep) I’ve even put plastic sheets on for him. I often say it’s as if he’s hit the self destruct button. He has been hospitalised 6 times because of alcohol related health problems and his family has disowned him. Gentle undertanding talks, hard tough love talks, scare tactics, public embarrassment and the police. I’ve tried them all and nothing ever worked. This has been the same for 6 years now day in day out. And honestly it’s totally exhausting.
From July until four weeks ago he hadn’t had a single non alcoholic drink.
However… This year on the 22 of february at 2pm he entered a rehabilitation clinic, and was discharged compleatley sober for the first time in 6 years on Thursday 4th march. He was never one of those people who wanted to get sober but couldn’t, he just never actually wanted too in the first place. Until I found something he wanted more that he wanted to drink. For me that was the key. In the UK you can see a doctor on behalf of someone else, I did and after a 2 hour talk to his doctor we realised the possibility of mental health problems. As he is the type of person who just has to know whats wrong he wanted a diagnosis, and couldn’t get one without a detox.
My advice would be to find something he wants so badly that he just has to be sober for. His desire for that diagnosis was my saving grace. You can’t help someone who won’t help themselves regardless of how much you want too. Sadly love usually isn’t enough.
Good Luck. x