A common question asked is why should I do an intervention if I can have them forced into treatment or have them committed? It is never a good idea to have a drug addict or alcoholic committed against their will without a formal drug or alcohol intervention first, unless they are suicidal, homicidal or are a direct threat to you or someone else. If your loved one chooses not to accept help at a drug or alcohol intervention then the idea of having them committed can be looked into. The problem with addicts and alcoholics alike is that they are resentful at everyone and everything that goes wrong seems to always be someone elses fault and they are never accountable. The question then becomes, how is your loved one going to respond to treatment when they don’t want to be there anyway and the only reason that they are in drug or alcohol rehab is because you put them there? Having them committed sounds like a good idea, however the results are never successful for long term sobriety. When addicts and alcoholics are committed against their own will it is almost always for only 24 to 72 hours for a psychiatric evaluation. Once committed, your loved one then manipulates the doctors and psychiatrists and is back home doing the same things they where doing the day before with some anti-depressants and a referral to a therapist or psychiatrist. Having a loved one committed without attempting a drug or alcohol intervention first does not give your loved one the opportunity to own the addiction and become accountable for it.
Intervention vs. Having them Committed
The most difficult drug or alcohol interventions we have are on adults who were committed to treatment in their adolescent years. Committing someone against their will causes such hate, anger and resentment that it carries with them well into their adult life. We understand that at times families are in crisis mode and they do what they feel they need to do to help their loved one at that moment in time. Without a drug or alcohol intervention you are only allowing your loved one to become more hostile and resentful at the family then they already are. The addict and alcoholic makes a career out of making their problems everyone elses fault, so when you have them forced into a drug or alcohol rehab this just confirms everything they every thought to be true. When your loved one enters a drug or alcohol rehab this way they are going in with a sense of entitlement that they are in alcohol or drug rehab doing you a favor. The long term result of this method is almost never favorable for the family or your loved one. Having them committed for alcohol or drug use should be considered after they have been offered the opportunity to go willingly through a drug or alcohol intervention.