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1. Is a Section 35 the only option?

No, there are other options. Many outpatient substance abuse treatment programs and private counselors conduct formal interventions. It is important to work with a professional who can help you decide if this process is appropriate for your family or client.

• To plan an intervention, family and friends should meet with a trained counselor who will help them to:
• Express concerns about their loved one's substance use
• Identify the person's resistance to stop using substances
• Decide what they can and cannot do
• Accept the outcome if the person refuses to accept treatment

Bottom Lines

Set your bottom line, examples of bottom lines can be:

• Not lending the individual any more money.
• Not allowing her/him to drink in your home
• The possibility of petitioning for a Section 35 commitment as part of the bottom line

Program Referrals

We know that people important to the individual abusing substances can have a tremendous impact both positively and negatively on a person's denial of their substance abuse problem.

Individuals who are requesting treatment on their own should be considered for referral to public programs that can provide treatment on a voluntary basis, rather than be referred to a Section 35 petition process.

2. How do I get someone committed to treatment under Section 35?

These adults may request the district court to commitment someone to treatment under Section 35:

• A spouse, blood relative, or guardian
• Any police officer, physician, or court official

Additional Step

They must go to the local court and fill out papers. In legal language, they must file a written petition for an order of commitment.

3. What happens once a petition is filed with the court?

Here are the next steps in order:

1. The court reviews the facts and decides whether or not to issue an order of commitment
2.  If yes, then the person who is the subject of the petition must come to court that day. The court issues them either a summons or a warrant of apprehension.
   1. Summons: A written notice delivered to the person.
   2. Warrant: Allows police to pick the person up. A warrant can be issued only during court hours. Police will pick a person up only if the court is open.
3.  If a warrant is issued and the person is picked up, they will be handcuffed, taken to court, and put in a holding cell to wait for a hearing.
   1.  The person has the right to a lawyer and to present their own experts.
   2. The court will arrange for a (forensic) psychiatrist or psychologist to examine them

4. How will the court decide what to do?

The court will review medical facts (evidence) from the exam and other evidence that relates to the case.

The court can order commitment only if both of the following are true:

• There is a medical diagnosis of alcoholism or substance abuse
• A likelihood of serious harm to the subject or others as a result of the substance abuse exists.

Likelihood of Serious Harm Clarification

To meet the criteria for civil commitment, likelihood of serious harm must exceed what harm can be reasonably assumed to exist, when any individual abuses alcohol or other drugs. The statute defines likelihood of serious harm as the following:

• A substantial risk of physical harm to the person as manifested by evidence of, threats of, or attempts at, suicide or serious bodily harm
• A substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by evidence of homicidal or other violent behavior or evidence that others are placed in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them
• A very substantial risk of physical impairment or injury to the person himself as manifested by evidence that such person's judgment is so effected that he is unable to protect himself in the community and that reasonable provision for his protection is not available in the community (GLC 123 Section 1)

Additional Information

The likelihood of serious harm must be directly related to the substance abuse and must be a current threat.

5. What happens next if the court orders her/him to be committed?

he judge orders her/him to a licensed inpatient substance abuse treatment facility such as, the Women's Addiction Treatment Center (WATC) facility in New Bedford, the Men's Addiction Treatment Center (MATC) in Brockton or another community treatment center. If a bed is not available the commitment could be to:

• Females: MCI-Framingham
• Males: Massachusetts Alcohol Substance Abuse Center (MSAC) treatment facility in MCI Bridgewater

6. What kind of help will an individual receive?

Once committed to a facility, an assessment will be completed regarding the person's need for detoxification. The length of time in a detoxification unit varies depending on the substance she/he is using, the amount of use, the time since her/his last use, and her/his overall health.

Once detoxification is complete she/he will receive rehabilitation services. This may or may not be in the same facility. Moreover, in the rehabilitation phase, the individual learns more about addiction, how to stay sober, and how to prevent relapse. Counselors then encourage individuals to engage in aftercare treatment services and supports.

7. What if she/he is too sick to go to a detoxification program?

Some individuals may have complicated medical conditions that cannot be appropriately treated in a standard detoxification unit. They may require what is called a Level 4 program which would be in a hospital setting, if they have conditions such as the following:

• Acute liver disease
• Biomedical problems that need stabilization and 24 hour medical management, observation, or evaluation
• Cardiovascular disorders that require monitoring
• Infectious open sores
• Major head trauma or loss of consciousness that requires monitoring
• Medical conditions that require a higher level of medications

8. What if they have a co-occurring mental health problem?

If a client has a psychiatric disorder which needs to be stabilized and/or managed to be able to treat the substance addiction they will have to be referred to a psychiatric hospital. Some examples of these disorders or symptoms are:

• Bipolar Disorder
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Symptoms such as psychosis (delusions or hallucinations) mania, acute depression, suicidal or homicidal

9. How long will the commitment be for?

The length of the civil commitment will vary with the severity of the client's addiction and the client's response to treatment. The commitment cannot exceed 90 days.

10. Will a Section 35 commitment cure her/his alcohol or drug problem?

Recovery is a process and detoxification is a start. For some individuals, a civil commitment to treatment begins their recovery. Others do not see a need to stop using alcohol or other drugs. It is helpful for family and friends to learn about addiction and to understand the process of recovery. Self-help organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are resources for families and friends.

Program Phone Numbers

• Alcoholics Anonymous: 617-426-9444
• Al-Anon: 508-366-0556
• Nar-Anon: 800-477-6291
• Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline: 800-327-5050

11. Can I go back to court if she/he drinks or uses other drugs again?

Yes, you may file a new petition. However, it is not automatic that she/he will be committed based on a history of having been committed before. The statute (law) addresses individuals whose substance use results in the current likelihood of serious harm. It does not address many individuals whose chronic use of alcohol or other drugs may have dire long term consequences.