FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ADDICTION RECOVERY LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDES
SOLUTIONS
FOR LOVED ONES WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS
Court
Ordered treatment helps families with out-of-control children before it’s too
late
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (July 16, 2008) – Stories about celebrities
with drug and alcohol addictions are spread all over the airwaves and in magazines
these days – a sight that makes parents cringe and hope that their children do
not end up in this type of trouble.
Addiction
Recovery Legal Services (ARLS) is the only South Florida law firms focusing
its practice on
“Unfortunately
many teens and older adults think its cool when celebrities are shown drinking and
using drugs,” said Alan Levine, a partner with ARLS. “Parents don’t know where to turn when their
own children start behaving like out-of-control stars. Family and friends watch in fear as their
loved ones addictions gets out of control and in some instances, like that of
Heath Ledger, result in death. Their previously good children are now failing
and missing school, running away, isolating themselves and even stealing from
them to buy drugs and alcohol. These parents’ worst nightmares are now
reality -- and they don’t know what to do to regain control. This is where we can
help.”
ARLS
provides families with step-by-step guidance on getting their loved ones court
ordered treatment through the Marchman Act, giving them the ability to petition
the court to order treatment. An
intervention can be staged for involuntary assessment and treatment by any
family member, guardian, blood relative or group of three independent witnesses
who have petitioned for a court hearing.
Once a judge orders an assessment or treatment, ARLS has a specific
process in place for each client that helps them monitor their client, the
facility and keep them in contact with the court. This process also allows ARLS to work on
court ordered extended treatments without a break in treatment for those
clients who require additional time.
“While the
Marchman Act does provide families with excellent options, it is surprising how
many people don’t know it exists as a strategic solution or they get frustrated
after trying to purse it on their own without knowledge of the legal system or
treatment world,” said Raymond G. Ferrero III,
Partner with ARLS. “We strive to provide
a full-service solution and walk our clients through every process associated
with the Marchman Act from locating a physician and facility to negotiating
rates and ensuring that the family member complies with all court orders.”
According to
the State of Florida, The Marchman Act defines “impaired” or “substance abuse
impaired” as a condition involving the use of alcohol or any psychoactive
mood-alerting substance in such a way that may cause mental, emotional or
physical problems and may cause socially dysfunctional behavior.
Both Levine
and Ferrero are two of the only private court appointed lawyers working with
the Marchman Act. Both were contracted
as independent contractors for the Broward County Public Defenders office in
the 1990s handling both Baker Act and Marchman Act cases and have since handled
over 10,000 cases.
-more-
Page 2 – Addiction Legal Recovery
Services
“Parents are
so desperate for where to turn when their children become out of control
addicts,” said Levine. “Often we use
scare tactics and engage sheriff’s deputies to pick the kids up to show them
everyone’s absolutely serious. When
these parents write letters telling us how the court ordered treatment has
helped put their families back together again – it’s an incredible feeling,” he
said.
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About Addiction
Recovery Legal Services
Addiction Recovery Legal Services is
a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm concentrating in the
.