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[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Fla's Baker Act can force treatment on drug/alcohol abusers

as well as Mental Health clients, for up to 90 days at a time, more time following review of need.

The process goes like this:
usually at request of poice who pick up a disturbed person, a Mental Health person would be called out any time day or night
( we got paid per call at night)
to evaluate the person who had been taken to a free standing crisis center.
If the person appeared to by suicidal, or psychotic, ..."danger to self or others", the on call psychiatrist was consulted and could order a 72 hour hold, then evaluate the person the next day.
If, during that time, the person was deemed to be in need of treatment, a judge could order treatment for up to 90 days at a time, with reviews every 90 days.

In Alabama, this type of law applies only to Mental Health clients, not substance abusers.

I worked both in both inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs, in Fla. and Alabama, and almost all
substance abuse clients were by court order.