Can We Force the Addict Into Treatment?

alcoholism was progressing to the point where her family feared that she would soon die (several days at best) from the disease. Though we tried for several hours to “reach” her through the intervention process, the intervention ended with a phone call to 911 requesting a 5150 on the basis of grave disability.

Police and the fire department arrived and preformed a brief assessment using the above-referenced criteria. After asking her a series of questions to determine mental state (name, where do you live, what day is it, etc.) and questioning her further regarding suicidality and homicidality, they determined that she did not meet the criteria for a 5150 hold. Although she arguably was gravely disabled (she was drunk at the time, empty bottles all over the floor, empty food containers strewn about), her condition was nevertheless insufficient to satisfy the “gravely disabled” provision of the code and the authorities had no alternative but to leave the house.

While a 5150 hold is available where appropriate, it is not a guarantee. Specific statutory criteria must be met. In cases where a 5150 is requested resulting from addiction, there still remains the very serious question of drug/alcohol treatment. At best, the family hopes for three days (and perhaps an additional 14 if granted) to plant the seed of treatment to address the addiction issues.

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