Ideally, people seeking help for their substance abuse disorder are coming of their own free volition, ready and eager to get assistance for their struggle with addiction. But this is not always the case. Sometimes, people entering rehab are there due to a court order, undergoing drug or alcohol treatment because of an arrest, perhaps in lieu of jail time or as a condition of early release.
That's why it's imperative for a rehab program to help support addicts in legal trouble and aid them in navigating the justice system.
Sometimes an addict needs a drastic incident to find the help they need for their substance abuse. That can be a planned intervention from friends and loved ones or a situation in which their substance abuse has negative effects on others and forces the addict to face their problem head-on.
But sometimes it can be the arrival of law enforcement in their life. An arrest, leading to criminal charges, can be just the sort of eye-opening legal situation that can force an addict to realize they need help.
And, honestly, they may not have a choice. For lower-end drug charges — basic possession charges, rather than ones involving distribution or heavier charges — a judge may impose court-ordered rehab on a defendant, possibly in the place of jail time or perhaps as a condition for release from prison.
The addict will thus arrive in rehab with the prospect of prison hovering in the background of all they do. If they fail to finish the program for some reason, they could find themselves going to jail, either for the first time or as a return due to their failure to complete legal treatment.
Some patients may not be happy with their presence in rehab, forced upon them as it is. Others may lash out or be sullen, unwilling to participate beyond the bare legal minimum because they feel their choices have been taken away from them due to the mandate they attend. Only the threat of jail may have brought them to go at all.
![Supporting Addicts in Legal Trouble: Navigating the Justice System](https://goodlandingrecovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/legal-help-inside.jpg)
This can create a lot of additional stress for the patient as they enter treatment in a situation where stress is the enemy of progress. It is therefore important that the rehab program do everything it can to make rehab successful for the patient and support them in navigating the justice system alongside their clinical experience.
They may also feel others are judging them for their actions. Even amidst a crowd of fellow addicts, their presence there due to an arrest and possible conviction may make them feel they are receiving extra scrutiny, which can cause further stress.
Good Landing Recovery will work with any patient who chooses to conduct their court-mandated rehab within their program. They present a course of treatment free of judgment and are willing to work with any patient to overcome any reluctance or resistance to help support them and find true recovery, no matter why they’re there initially.
Navigating the legal system while trying to recover from substance abuse is no laughing matter, but it can be done with help. Good Landing can provide that help to any addict who is working through a court-ordered rehabilitation program and wants to offer that assistance to you or your loved one should such a situation arise.
If you or someone you know is facing the need for a court-ordered rehab, give Good Landing a call and support them in their time of legal trouble. Navigating the justice system has never been so easy with Good Landing in your corner.