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Long Term Court-Ordered Involuntary Treatment For Addiction Ain’t Disneyland
Under a new California law, individuals can be forced into involuntary treatment for up to 24 months.
I want to make this clear from the onset that I am opposed to involuntary treatment for individuals challenged by addiction, and I will lay out my reasons for WHY in this article.
As addiction rates soar and the overdose crisis continues to ravage communities, there is a growing push for expanded involuntary commitment for people with addiction and mental health challenges.
However, many organizations and individuals, including Human Rights Watch, are strongly opposed to California’s CARE Court (CA SB 1338), which is now in effect in some counties as a beta test. Under this new law, people with mental health conditions and addiction issues can be forced into involuntary long-term treatment.
Let’s get real here. The State of California has failed to stem the tide of addiction or homelessness, so their latest solution is to lock addicts up in involuntary treatment centers.
For those who argue in favor of involuntary treatment, their support is rooted in compassion, love, and sheer desperation. In many cases, these advocates are parents, loved ones, or beleaguered clinicians who deeply care about the well-being of…
