Forced addiction treatment is one of the most controversial topics in the recovery community. It is the practice of physically detaining addicts and holding them against their will until they get clean.
It can seem like an extreme method of getting help, but there’s new research that suggests forced addiction treatment might be just what some addicts need to begin their recovery process in earnest.
In this blog post we will discuss how forced addiction treatment works and how it may help you or someone you love finally achieve sobriety after many years of struggling with addiction.
What is Forced Addiction Treatment?
Forced addiction treatment, also known as mandated addiction treatment, is a court-ordered legal requirement for an individual to attend and complete substance abuse rehabilitation or other treatment programs in order to comply with the terms and conditions of probation or parole.
The concept behind forced addiction treatment is that if the individual doesn’t agree to go on his own, he will be forced through legal channels to do so in order to comply with the terms and conditions of his probation or parole.
The idea is that addiction is a chronic disease and successful recovery requires participation in long-term care based on scientific evidence. Therefore, some courts order individuals into long-term care as part of their sentence for criminal behavior when relapse would result in further crime.
Sometimes this takes place at the completion of incarceration, during an incarceration or following arrest on suspicion of committing another crime.
Judges have the discretion to determine which approach works best in each case, however, studies suggest that two specific approaches are most effective. The first being intensive supervision coupled with ongoing drug testing and the second being involuntary commitment.
It is suggested that out-of-state residents may not be able to refuse forced addiction treatment because the state in which they reside can revoke their right to vote.
But there are some things to keep in mind before strongly considering a forced addiction treatment program:
- If you’re under 18 years old, parental consent is required and you can’t make your own decisions about whether to enroll in an intensive program.
- There may be medical risks associated with withdrawal from addictive substances; these include seizures, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and physical pain such as headaches due to withdrawal
What Does the Research Say About Forced Addiction Treatment?
Forced addiction treatment is not a new idea, but more and more evidence points to the fact that it has the potential to work for some people. Forced addiction treatment has been a controversial topic in the past, but new research suggests that it may be more effective than other treatments.
Some studies show that patients who were forced into drug treatment and had no other options were more likely to stay clean and sober, and less likely to relapse than those who self-initiated drug treatment or received traditional outpatient care without coercion.
Mandatory Addiction Treatment May Be More Effective Than Other Methods
In recent years, a number of states have responded to the opioid epidemic by forcing individuals with drug problems into treatment programs. But does this type of forced addiction treatment work as a long term strategy?
Some experts now say yes, citing information that says people who go through mandatory addiction treatment are more likely to stay drug-free than those who go through other types of drug rehabs or who are mandated by the court system to attend treatment.
There is research that suggests that people who were ordered into mandatory addiction treatments were less likely to commit crimes and more likely to stay employed after completing their program than those going through other types of rehabilitation programs.
Forced addiction treatment programs have the potential to be effective because they give addicts a sense of responsibility by making them focus on their recovery, as well as teaching them how to live without drugs and alcohol.
The benefit of this approach is that people who complete the programs have been shown to be less likely to relapse when faced with difficult situations in their lives.
Get Help For Your Addiction at Maryland Addiction Recovery Center
The idea that a person can be coerced into treatment has been around for decades and has been proven to be effective in certain circumstances.
If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction issues, seek help at Maryland Addiction Recovery Center. We are committed to helping our patients reconstruct their lives through innovative solutions.
At Maryland Addiction Recovery Center, it is our mission to provide a safe, therapeutic environment that offers the latest in evidence-based clinical care for our patients and their families.
If you or someone you know needs help for addiction or co-occurring disorder issues, please give us a call. Maryland Addiction Recovery Center offers the most comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction treatment in the Mid-Atlantic area. If we aren’t the best fit for you or your loved one, we will take the necessary time to work with you to find a treatment center or provider that better fits your needs. Please give us a call at (866) 929-2159 or email our team at info@marylandaddictionrecovery.com