The law allows the parents, relatives, or friends of an addicted person to lawfully intervene and request involuntary, court-ordered addiction treatment for their addicted loved one.
Click here for the STEPS involved in Casey's Law.
1. You (the petitioner) must complete this petition.
2. File the petition with your county's circuit clerk.
3. The court will review the petition, take an "under oath" statement from you, and make a decision.
4. If the court agrees that there is probable cause to proceed with the process, the addicted person will be notified and a hearing will occur within two weeks.
5. The addicted person will be assessed by two healthcare professionals, one of which must be a physician.
6. The court will decide whether or not the addicted person must complete involuntary addiction treatment (duration of treatment: between 60 days and 360 days).
7. You (the petitioner) will then be responsible for (A) locating a treatment facility and (B) paying for the addicted person's treatment if fees apply.
You may be asking, "Is involuntary treatment effective?" The professional consensus is yes. Statistics show that people who are legally required to complete treatment by court-intervention can be equally as successful as those who enter treatment voluntarily. The fact is, most people enter drug rehabilitation reluctantly. There is almost always a crisis of some sort that "forces" them to make changes in their life.
If you believe Casey's Law is an appropriate vehicle for getting your loved one the help they need, we encourage you to move forward with your decision. But keep in mind: you are not to blame for your loved one's addiction, and you must not take sole responsibility for their recovery. All you can do is help, and it is brave of you to consider this option: Casey's Law.
