Getting a friend out of rehab?

[vx15i]

A friend of mine (lets call her Suzy) had a Marchman act filed against her by her adoptive mother.  FYI, a Marchman act allows someone to be involuntarily taken into custody to be evaluated for drug and alcohol abuse, based SOLELY on the affidavit filed by the person (i.e., you don?t need proof).

?Suzy? was arrested and held for two weeks (although the Marchman act specifies only 5 days).  She was released, but NOT court ordered to undergo treatment, because there was nothing wrong with her.  She has never done a drug in her life, has never had any problems with the law, nor has she ever had any treatment.  She was, however, experimenting with alcohol, which she admitted to, so they convinced her to ?voluntarily? attend residential rehab.  She was 17 at the time.

She called me up, extremely upset obviously (she is a good kid, has never caused problems), and told me what happened and asked for help.  She told me her adoptive mother was going to take her to residential treatment, and it was going to last for 6-12 months.  I really had no idea what to do, but contacted a lawyer for her.  Unfortunately, before she could get into contact with the lawyer, her mother took her to a place called ?The Village? in Miami.  The lawyer said there was nothing he could do, since she has not retained him.  No other lawyers even wanted to have anything to do with it.

A few months later, on her 18th B-day, I sent several letters (with stamped envelopes) to the various addresses I found online, and one managed to get to her.  I received a phone call from her ?Family Therapist? (lets call him Bob) who told me Suzy did not want me to write her anymore!  I was shocked, because she had begged me for help just a few months prior.

Turns out, ?Bob? was lying.  A couple days later I received a letter from Suzy, written a couple days before Bob called, telling me she was fine and being treated well, and she asked me specifically to write back.  I immediately wrote back, but the letter was marked ?return to sender?.  I sent several more letters, and one managed to get through, but the rest have been sent back.  I received one more letter from her, telling me she wants to leave but she is only going up to ?level 2? soon (after all these months), and that they don?t even begin to talk about leaving until ?level 3?.

The problem is, she thinks she is legally obligated to stay there, she has no idea she can leave.  Even if she knew she could leave, where can she go?  Her adoptive mother has basically abandoned her, she has no money, lost her job, and was not able to get her HS diploma.

So, I decided to go pick her up.  Unfortunately, this is no small task.  I live over 12 hours away in Georgia.  I can?t just drive down there any time I want.  We have a four day weekend coming up, and I?ve reserved a rental car in anticipation of going to get her.

I know exactly where she is staying, have directions, maps, and even satellite photos from google.

The problem is, what is going to happen when I get there?  Will they let me even talk to her?  Will they call the cops?  Will they let me take her?  Will she even leave, she may chicken out and be too scared? who knows what they have said to her.

Basically, what I am asking is, anyone out there have any clue, advice, anything?  Anyone do anything like this before?  Anybody know the legalities?

Thanks.
[ This Message was edited by: vx15i on 2005-08-24 17:56 ]

[OverLordd]

I'm really sorry, but the only thing you really can do is a law suit, or you can bust her out. The beast has her, and either way will be really really hard. You dont have the resorces to do a law suit. The plus side is that if you do the bust out you cant get charged with kid napping because she is 18. Then again, if she says she does not want to go with you, then you have some issues there, but I dont know why she would not want to go with you.

If I were you I could start calling up that therapist at all hours of the night and vent at him for lieing you to. You can make him feel bad by questioning his profressional ethics, those guys take that seriously. hehe

[Anonymous]

You might try posing as a prospective parent to gain admittance.  That way you wouldn't be treepassing and you would hopefully buy enough time to locate and make contact with her.  If you are not old enough to pass as an 18-year-old's parent then bring someone who is.  You can be another relative.

[Nihilanthic]

Call the Sheriff.

If she is 18 and not legally obligated she can march out. Unless she's already been worked over by the typical mindgames, shed see her light at the end of the tunnel and bolt.

I have heard of the law having to go to facilities when people turn 18 and inform them personally that htey can go... so, bug law enforcement. If they dont care, show up and make a big scene.

They used to burn witches. Today we laugh at them. Today we jail people for marijuana. Tomorrow they'll laugh at us.

--Robert "Rosie" Rowbotham

[Anonymous]

Since she is 18, you could hire an attorney, and get them to file a "writ of habeas corpus."  

The only other practical idea would be to try to find out when-- or wait around until you see them outside, (if they get to go outside at all) and scream her name, so she knows you're there.

Before trying either of those two tactics, however, with your limited time, I would walk in through the front door, and ask to speak to her.  If they say no, say, "she is 18 years old and has a right to speak for herself if she tells me she doesn't want to speak to me I'll leave."  At this point there are two possible reactions, they will tell you "no" in which case, I would say, "well then, I'm staying here Until I see her. If they threatedn to call the police stand your ground.  Stay there and force them to call the police. At this point, you could ask the police to get involved with this situation where you believe there is a person who is being falsely imprisoned.

Good luck & keep us posted!

[Anonymous]

remember there is usually more to the story than what you know.  we helped "bust" someone out, truly thinking we were doing the right thing.  we thought the parents were so wrong for sending their child off.  turns out, the child proved the parents right in less than a year.  now we are the ones eating crow and apologizing for not paying attention to the whole story.  just remember, there ARE always two sides to every story.  we wished we had investigated the other side a little closer and minded our own business.

[Nihilanthic]

I smell a certain anonymous fish.

I was born a heretic. I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
--Susan B. Anthony, U.S. reformer and suffragist

[vx15i]

I appreciate everyones advice so far.  Thank you.

I will certainly provide an update after everything is over and I'm back home.

[OverLordd]

remember there is usually more to the story than what you know. we helped "bust" someone out, truly thinking we were doing the right thing. we thought the parents were so wrong for sending their child off. turns out, the child proved the parents right in less than a year. now we are the ones eating crow and apologizing for not paying attention to the whole story. just remember, there ARE always two sides to every story. we wished we had investigated the other side a little closer and minded our own business.

Its your own fault for not standing by your actions, eating crow is nothing, just fuck the parents. You did the right thing, some times the right thing hurts, and it hurt this time. Anyway, moving on, He most likely would of had a relaps anyway after the program, most teens do, so whats it matter?

[Anonymous]

On 2005-08-26 03:10:00, Anonymous wrote:

"remember there is usually more to the story than what you know.  we helped "bust" someone out, truly thinking we were doing the right thing.  we thought the parents were so wrong for sending their child off.  turns out, the child proved the parents right in less than a year.  now we are the ones eating crow and apologizing for not paying attention to the whole story.  just remember, there ARE always two sides to every story.  we wished we had investigated the other side a little closer and minded our own business."

this coming from who.....

an employee of a program perhaps?

[Anonymous]

The kid is age 18---time the make her own choices in life.  Guarantee you, no one at the PROGRAM has said: "You are 18 and free to leave, and there's the door."
This adoptive mother should then provide this girl with the same amount of  money she is paying this PROGRAM...and give this girl the CHANCE to "sink or swim" on her own. That's my opinion!

[Anonymous]

Wai 2 go Lorddi.  Think only one way.  Hear only one side.  Forget any other possibilities.  Stick to your guns.  Never admit you were wrong.  Its every other person with a different view that is wrong.  Besides, nothing matters -- that is what you said isn't it ... usually theres a "relaps" [lick again?] so it doesnt matter?

[Anonymous]

Anon, if this girl is 18, she has the RIGHT to have input to decisions being made about whether or not she is in this SO-CALLED-SCHOOL! IF this girl has "broken any laws," then put her in a PROPER JAIL... where she has RIGHTS.  Otherwise, she does not deserve to be in a LOCK-DOWN facility against her will.

[vx15i]

Something really strange just happened.

A month ago, I sent her $300 via Western Union and a letter to the Village telling her about it, with directions where to pick it up and directions to the bus station.

Since my letters have all been returned, I assumed she never got it and forgot about it, but sent a few extra letters with the same info just in case.

Well, she JUST picked up the money!  30 minutes ago.  I'm not sure what is going on, and I have to go to work, but I'll let you know later.

[ This Message was edited by: vx15i on 2005-08-29 05:10 ][ This Message was edited by: vx15i on 2005-08-29 05:10 ]

[Nihilanthic]

::cheers::

Harmlessly passing your time in the grasslands away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
you better watchout,
there may be dogs about.
I've looked over Jordan, and have seen.
Things are not what they seem.


--Roger Waters 1977