Can I Involuntarily Commit my Wife.

[mikied]

My wife is an emotional basket case.  She has unresolved emtional issues that she treats by herself using alcohol and prescription medication that she gets from her friends.  She will not work and tells me to go f**k myself when I ask to to get medical help.  This is causing a big emotional strain on me and the kids.  What can I do?

[dominosarah]

I agree with Jaybay.  Pretty tough to do. Check into Alanon for yourself and Alateen for the kids if they are older.  You will find others who have gone thru the same thing and can give you some good ideas on what and what not to do.  Make sure she doesnt have access to all the money and dont buy her any alcohol for starters.  I am sorry you are going thru this..You as the family members are affected the most by our addiction.        sara

[Jaybay]

You need to talk to an attorney.  It is extremely difficult to have someone committed to any kind of medical treatment against his or her will.  Although your wife is harming herself, she has the right to do that.  A judge must strongly consider civil rights, and if the person is at all capable of saying, "I don't want treatment" that's pretty much the end of it.  You'll need to prove that she is incapable of understanding what she is doing and unable to care for herself.  That's a tall order to fill.  Again, get some good legal advice and take it from there.