9781422275443

CASEY’S LAW, 2004

Casey’s Law is a substance abuse intervention law named for Matthew Casey Washington, who died in 2002 from a heroin overdose at the young age of twenty-three. Casey’s parents had long been aware of his drug problem. Prior to his addiction, Casey had been an energetic, happy young man. After he tried drugs for the first time, he was hooked, even though he never intended to become addicted. His parents recognized the huge negative change that drug addiction created in his life and wanted to get him help. At that time, existing laws prevented parents and friends from forcing their loved one to get treatment for their drug problem. Casey did not want to get help and

Heroin addiction kills thousands each year. Casey’s Law helps friends and family intervene to get help for an addict.

eventually died as a result of his drug addiction. After their son’s death, Casey’s parents worked hard to change the laws in their home state of Kentucky. Casey’s Law enables friends and family members of people dealing with addiction to insist on treatment for their loved ones, even if they are initially unwilling to do so. People who suffer from drug addiction often get treatment only after they are arrested and forced to go through the drug detoxification process while in jail. While this causes them to leave jail without a physical addiction to drugs, it does not help them figure out how to restructure their lives so that they can live without the challenges of substance abuse. When people are in the throes of addiction, it’s often difficult for them to recognize that they need help. Casey’s Law allows people to be involuntarily committed to drug addiction treatment without being arrested for a crime.

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HELPING THOSE WITH ADDICTIONS