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When asked if civil commitment can be used to treat opioid addicts, Walker County Probate Judge Christy Anderson replied, “The only thing Probate Court can do is an OTA (Order to Apprehend). This is for mental health mainly, but has been used for some alcoholics and drug addicts.”

An OTA requires a sheriff’s deputy to pick the subject up and deliver them to the receiving facility that the order states, the judge said.

Judge Anderson stressed that, “It is for an evaluation only.”

Following evaluation, she said it is up to the doctor to determine how long the subject will stay, but it is usually less than 72 hours.

An order that results in this short term involuntary commitment for evaluation is different from orders issued in criminal cases.

If the subject has committed a crime and is found guilty of said crime, part of his/her sentencing can be spending a specified amount of time in rehab, Anderson said, adding, “Usually its from three to six months.”