State senator talks about law that would allow forced treatment for addicts

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania state senator is talking about his new tough-love approach to treating drug addiction.

State Sen. Jay Costa told Channel 11’s Joe Arena that it’s time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to getting help for people struggling with drug addiction.

“This is a little bit different than what we would normally want to do,” Costa said.

Bill 391 is a proposal that would allow relatives of those struggling with addiction to force them into rehab.

“Most of the instances, you would prefer that the person with addiction who needs to be treated would do so voluntarily, but that’s not the case often times,” he said.

Domenic Marks knows first-hand what heroin addiction can do to a family. His daughter Amanda was just 14 years old when she started smoking marijuana. Two years later she had her wisdom teeth removed and became addition to pain medicine. By the age of 18, she was doing heroin.

Marks said forcing most addicts into treatment is futile.

“My daughter went through two rehab stints. Both of them were forced rehab stints (and) neither of them took,” he said. “Most recovering addicts will tell you that it has to be a voluntary commitment they have to be motivated.”

Amanda Marks has been clean for three years now but told Arena that it’s because she decided to finally get help.

Costa’s bill is based primarily on

legislation in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

If passed, families could petition their county administrator to set up a hearing to determine whether or not forced treatment is warranted. Before the hearing takes place, a mental health evaluation would be scheduled.

The senator said he hoped to set up public hearings to generate more conversation.

Cox Media Group