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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.

If you are an attorney interested in learning more about volunteering to help hotline callers seeking court-ordered inpatient treatment for a family member or friend struggling with opioid addiction, contact helpus@massbar.org.