Section 35 Helpline: Addiction Assistance
Know someone struggling with addiction? Call the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Section 35 Helpline, a free legal assistance program for those seeking court-ordered inpatient treatment for a family member or friend struggling with addiction.
Attorney volunteers can offer assistance with "Section 35" (Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 123, Section 35), a law that permits individuals to petition the courts to involuntarily commit substance abusers to an inpatient treatment program when their alcohol or drug use puts themselves or others at risk. A substance abuser can be sent to a treatment program for up to 90 days if a judge determines, following a hearing and a review of medical evidence, that there is a "likelihood of serious harm" to themselves or others.
Contact us at (844) 843-6221, or helpus@massbar.org.