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Involuntary Commitment of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders or Alcoholism

This document will first provide a summary of the most common involuntary commitment provisions across the nation followed by a series of charts with detailed information on each state’s laws. Please note that the focus of this memorandum is on civil commitment rather than on commitment of individuals with criminal charges who are ordered to undergo treatment as part of their sentence or in lieu of serving time in jail. Additionally, statutes regarding protective custody of individuals who are impaired or incapacitated by alcohol or drugs are not included in this memorandum. Further, this memorandum does not discuss involuntary outpatient treatment.