This website is dedicated to educating families who struggle with an addicted family member and the consequences of their behaviors.

A Petition for Involuntary Assessment may be filed when there is good faith reason to believe an individual is substance-abuse impaired and because of that impairment, has lost the power of self-control with respect to substance use. The Petition is filed with the Clerk of Court and must be set for hearing within 10 days. Notice of hearing is provided by mail to the petitioners. The patient is served notice of hearing by a plainclothes Deputy Sheriff. A General Magistrate presides at the hearing. After hearing all relevant testimony, the court may enter an Order for Involuntary Assessment. Unless arrangements have been made for assessment at a private facility, the court order shall direct the Sheriff's Office to take the patient into custody and deliver him/her to a public facility licensed by the Department of Children and Families. The facility will assess and stabilize the patient for a period not to exceed 5 days. A written assessment is sent to the court. Once the written assessment is received, the court may proceed with the Petition for Involuntary Treatment.

A Petition for Involuntary Treatment may be filed once the written assessment is reviewed by the court and the recommendation is involuntary treatment. Notice of hearing is provided by mail to the petitioners and any attorney on record. The patient is once again served notice of hearing by a plainclothes Deputy Sheriff.

A General Magistrate presides at the hearing and after taking all relevant testimony, the court may enter an order for involuntary treatment for a period not to exceed 60 days. It may also direct the Sheriff to take the patient into custody and delivery him to the licensed facility.

In family support groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon we learn that we cannot control the addictions of our loved ones. While that remains true in the long term, we believe that families can and should take exhaust their options before giving up. 
In the addiction treatment field, it is always our goal to capitalize on situations and leverage them to the benefit of the person who does not yet appreciate their own need for treatment. It is our desire that everyone suffering with an addicted family member can arrive at the place where they can sleep at night knowing they have done everything possible to help. Whatever you do DON’T WAIT! TAKE ACTION! Addiction leads to death, jail and institutions so please don’t give up without a fight