BUSINESS MONDAY

October 13, 2008

Don't give up

on drug treatment

Re: ''Law firm specializes in rehabilitation,'' Sept. 15:

First, my support of lawyers Alan Levine and Raymond Ferrero for helping families struggling with drug and alcohol addiction seek treatment through the Marchman Act. Many times the main deterrent for treatment is lack of information. Families do not know where to turn when a loved one struggles with the destructive behaviors of addiction. The Marchman Act is a tool that families can use to ''stabilize'' an addict who is at the point of hurting themselves or others. And even though an attorney is not needed to file a Marchman petition, sometimes families cannot get past the red tape.

However, families should not give up on seeking substance abuse treatment for a suffering loved one, whether through an involuntary situation (sometimes as a last resort) like the Marchman Act or a voluntary agreement (self-admission to a treatment facility). A Harvard University study found that substance abuse interventions ranked among the top 10 percent of over 500 cost-saving and life-saving medical treatments.

As a professional in the addiction field, my advice for families seeking drug addiction treatment for loved ones is this: Get help -- it is life-saving! If all voluntary treatment options have proved futile, use a tool like the Marchman Act. Tough love is tough.

MARINO CARBONELL,

Licensed Psychotherapist/

Certified Addiction

Specialist, South Miami