Can You Force Someone to Go To Rehab in Florida?

Do you know someone who has lost control of their lives to drug or alcohol addiction? It can be heartbreaking to watch someone you care about struggle who clearly needs medical help but won’t seek it. It leaves loved ones asking the question, “Can you force someone to go to rehab in Florida?” Tampa Bay Recovery know how important it is for someone who has a substance use disorder to get the quality treatment they need in order to become sober for good. We explore what the options are for getting someone into rehab who doesn’t want to go.

Signs Someone Needs to Go to Rehab

When someone succumbs to addiction and cannot stop drinking or abusing drugs, they show signs of it. If you are wondering, “Can you force someone to go to rehab in Florida?”, you likely have witnessed some of them. For those still not sure if an intervention may be necessary, the signs of an addiction to drugs and alcohol include the following:

• Hiding evidence of alcohol or drug usage, including empty bottles and drug paraphernalia
• Work, school, and personal life negatively impacted by substance use
• Acting physically uncoordinated
• Cognitive difficulties
• Frequent hangovers or other ill effects after using substances
• Slurred speech
• Isolating
• Unexplained spending of money
• Withdrawal symptoms when not using substances
• Trying to quit drinking or using drugs on their own and cannot do it

How the Marchman Act Impacts Forced Treatment for Addiction

If you love someone who doesn’t recognize how much they need treatment for their addiction and want to know, “Can you force someone to go to rehab in Florida?”, you’ll want to know about The Marchman Act. The Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act was passed in 1993 in an effort to help people who do not recognize they are sick or seek the help they need for a life-threatening addiction. This act allows for intervention in emergency cases when a dire need for treatment for an individual has been established. 

The Marchman Act can be used by family members and a few others to petition a court to force a person to be evaluated for a need for treatment for a substance use disorder. The individual must be aged 18 or older. If the decision is made that they need help, the court can force the person to enter treatment. Paramount to reaching this decision is proving that the sick person is unable to make a decision to get help. The court also considers if they may have harmed themselves or others or have threatened to do so. Anyone forced into rehab may have to stay there for up to 60 days.

Using the Marchman Act to Force Someone to Go to Rehab in Florida

In order to take advantage of the Marchman Act of Florida, a spouse, relative, guardian, or three unrelated people must file a petition with the court. The petition can also be filed by a doctor, therapist, or law enforcement officer who witnessed that the individual needs help they are unwilling or unable to seek.  A judge or magistrate will make a decision and, if they agree the individual needs treatment, will serve them with a summons for a court hearing. Emergency orders can be issued in certain cases. 

Families wanting to take advantage of the Marchman Act may want to hire a lawyer to help them through the process. In addition, the individual they want to force into treatment is also allowed to have an attorney on their side. It can be helpful if the family has done some research and has an idea of what treatment program might be a good fit for their loved one.

What is Rehab in Florida Like?

Rehab in Florida will include different levels of care that begin with going to a detox program. From there, some people move into a residential program for an extended period of time. For others, outpatient care provides the focused care the person needs but still allows them to live in their homes or a sober living facility. The levels of outpatient care include:

• Outpatient Programs (OP)
• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
• Virtual IOP
• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

All levels of care feature types of therapy proven to help people overcome substance use disorders. They help people learn to change how they think and react to potential triggers. Therapy helps people resolve issues that often contribute to developing an addiction, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. Therapies provided in rehab are done on both an individual and group therapy basis.

Begin Rehab in Tampa, FL

Now that you know the answer to the question, “Can you force someone to go to rehab in Florida?”, you may wonder where your loved one can get the help they deserve. Tampa Bay Recovery offers high-quality outpatient treatment for people with substance use disorders. Our staff of experienced medical and psychological experts understands how to help someone recognize that addiction has overtaken their lives. From there, the individual attends a variety of addiction-related therapies that teach them how to think differently and resist the temptation to relapse. 
Would you like to know more about how to get help for your loved one? Visit our admissions page now and find out how you can get the ball rolling.