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CARE Act would allow involuntary commitment for addicts

By Catherine Robertson Souter

As part of an effort to combat the drug overdose epidemic, a new law, known as the CARE Act, currently in the Massachusetts legislature would allow certain medical professionals to hospitalize people addicted to drugs for up to 72 hours while waiting for a court order. The law would give physicians, psychiatric nurses, qualified licensed psychologists or clinical social workers the right to judge if a patient’s addiction poses an immediate danger to themselves or to others. The law would allow this involuntary commitment on the basis of the facts and circumstances even if the patient refuses to be examined. [More]

Tags: drug overdose, CARE Act, addiction, involuntary commitment, court order, recovery treatment, Massachusetts legislature
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