Should I negotiate with my loved one if they have substance use and/or mental health disorder?

In this video, I want to talk to you about the concept of negotiating with your loved one to go to treatment.

There have been times when we filed either a Marchman Act or a Guardianship, and the loved one who was the respondent tells his family that he doesn’t want to go to the treatment center. They’re trying to negotiate. What I’m trying to say to you is, you’re not negotiating with your loved one; you’re dealing with the disease of substance use or mental illness, or both. Substance use and mental illness run the show, and they don’t like treatment. They know the death knell of these diseases, and so they’re going to negotiate; they’re going to do the best they can to somehow wiggle their way out of doing what needs to be done. My advice is not to negotiate, and you have to be firm with this. After filing hundreds of these cases and speaking to thousands of parents, I’m sure of this. I’ve had a nickel for every crying; mother or father I’ve talked to. It’s a serious commitment of time of energy and money.

You are sick and tired of being sick, trips in the emergency room, being in and out of treatment, overdoses, and relapses. I know you guys are all exhausted when you call me. Nobody likes calling a lawyer, and I’ll be the first to tell you that. When you’ve decided, you made that serious commitment of spending to hire me. You’re making the financial commitment to treatment, so I want to tell you again, do not negotiate. We think it’s the best thing to do, so understand that we’re being difficult.

It was a great question that and I appreciate it. Thank you, stay safe, and be well.