Around half of US states allow some form of involuntary commitment for substance use, though criteria and procedures vary widely. Florida’s Marchman Act and Casey’s Law in Kentucky and Ohio are the best known. California has no equivalent statute for addiction alone, which surprises many families here.
Almost every family I work with asks some version of this question.
Can I make them go? Is there a legal way to force this?
I am Chris Howard. The honest answer depends enormously on where you live, and for Californians it is more limited than you would hope.
What involuntary commitment means
A court or authorised authority orders a person into assessment or treatment without their consent.
For mental health crises, most states have some provision. For substance use specifically, provision is patchier and the criteria are typically stricter.
The general shape is similar across states. A petitioner, usually a family member, files with a court. The court reviews evidence. If criteria are met, it may order evaluation and then treatment for a defined period.
The Marchman Act, Florida
This is the best-known statute in this area, and the reason this question circulates so widely online.
The act allows a family member, or three unrelated adults with direct knowledge, to petition the court for assessment and stabilisation of someone with a substance use impairment.
Broadly, the criteria require that the person has lost self-control regarding substance use, and either poses a risk of harm to themselves or others, or is unable to appreciate their need for care.
It provides for an initial assessment period, which can be followed by a longer treatment order if the court agrees.
Casey’s Law in Kentucky and Ohio
Named after a young man who died of an overdose after his family could not compel treatment.
It allows a relative or friend to petition the court for involuntary treatment of someone with a substance use disorder. A significant feature is that the petitioner is generally responsible for the cost of the treatment ordered.
That cost provision is worth understanding early, because it surprises families who assume a court order means state-funded care.
Other states
Provision varies widely, and the detail changes with legislation.
Some states allow commitment for substance use under general civil commitment statutes. Others have dedicated provisions. Many of them have none at all.
Duration, criteria and who may petition all differ. If you are outside California, check your own state’s current statute with a local attorney rather than relying on a general article, including this one.
Why California makes this hard
California has no Marchman Act equivalent for addiction.
The state’s involuntary provisions run through the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, principally the 5150 hold for psychiatric emergencies. That requires a mental health disorder producing danger to self, danger to others, or grave disability.
Substance use alone generally does not meet that standard. This is the single most common disappointment I encounter with Los Angeles families.
Where there is a co-occurring serious mental illness, the picture changes and an assessment may be possible. Where there is not, the legal route is usually closed.
For a fuller explanation of the related legal route in California, I wrote separately about conservatorship for a loved one with addiction.
Does court-ordered treatment actually work?
This deserves an honest answer rather than a convenient one.
Research on mandated treatment is mixed. Some studies find outcomes comparable to voluntary treatment, particularly where the mandate keeps someone engaged long enough for other factors to take hold. Others find engagement and retention are poorer without willingness.
What is reasonably clear is that coercion alone does not produce lasting recovery. It can create a window. What happens inside that window matters more.
I mention this because families sometimes pursue a legal route at enormous personal cost, expecting it to resolve the situation. It rarely does on its own.
What California families usually do instead
Since the legal route is mostly unavailable here, the practical route matters more.
A structured family intervention is a planned, prepared meeting where the people closest to someone present a united request that they accept help. Treatment is arranged in advance so a yes can be acted on immediately.
It has no legal force. It also has no legal barrier, no filing period and no court calendar.
For most families I work with in Los Angeles, that combination makes it the faster and more realistic option.
If the situation is an emergency
If there is immediate danger to life, call 911 and clearly state that this is a mental health crisis.
For an emergency that is not immediately life-threatening, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is confidential, available at any hour, and carries no cost to the caller.
Los Angeles County residents can reach the Department of Mental Health ACCESS line on 800-854-7771, which can dispatch a mobile crisis team.
If you want to talk through what is realistically available in your situation, you can reach me on 866-826-0985.
Frequently asked questions
Can I force my adult child into rehab in California?
Generally no. California has no involuntary commitment statute for substance use alone. The 5150 hold requires a mental health disorder producing danger or grave disability.
What is the Marchman Act?
A Florida statute that allows a family member or three unrelated adults to petition a court for involuntary assessment and treatment of someone with a substance use impairment.
Does California have a Marchman Act?
No. California’s involuntary provisions sit within the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and are aimed at psychiatric emergencies rather than addiction.
Who pays for treatment under Casey’s Law?
The petitioner is generally responsible for the cost of treatment ordered. Confirm current provisions with a local attorney.
Does court-ordered rehab work?
Evidence is mixed. A mandate can keep someone engaged long enough for other factors to work, but coercion alone does not produce lasting recovery.
Can I file a petition myself?
In states that allow it, yes, usually with evidence and sometimes with co-petitioners. Requirements differ by state, so take local legal advice.
What are my options if my state has no statute?
A planned family intervention is the main practical route, and it can usually be arranged far faster than any court process.
If California’s legal route is closed, the practical one usually is not
I work with Los Angeles families deciding what is actually available to them. A confidential call is usually enough to see whether a structured next step fits your situation.