Can You Have Someone Committed For Alcoholism?
If you’re worried about someone close to you who is drinking too much, you may be wondering if you can have them committed for alcoholism. The short answer is no, you cannot have someone involuntarily committed for alcoholism in the United States.
There are a number of reasons why this is the case. For one, alcoholism is not considered a mental illness under the law. This means that courts have not traditionally seen it as warranting involuntary commitment.
In addition, most states have laws on the books that specifically exempt alcoholism from the types of disorders that can be grounds for involuntary commitment.
So what can you do if you’re worried about someone’s drinking?
The best thing to do is to encourage them to seek help on their own. If they’re unwilling or unable to do that, you could consider asking a court to appoint a guardian for them. This would give you the legal authority to make decisions about their care and treatment.
Of course, getting someone committed for alcoholism is not the only option, and it’s important to remember that even if you could, it might not be the best thing for the person in question. This is a difficult situation, but ultimately it’s up to the individual to decide whether or how to address their alcoholism.