ArticleThe Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics2020
Perceived Benefits and Harms of Involuntary Civil Commitment for Opioid Use Disorder.
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Article in The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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6citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
What it found
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- A call for upstream solutions to the unregulated drug crisis in British Columbia, Canada: Locked up or locked out.Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique · 2025Article
- Use and perceptions of involuntary civil commitment among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts, United States: A mixed-methods study.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2025Article
- Managing Recurrent Endocarditis in Substance Use Disorder: The Role of Civil Commitment and Comprehensive Care.The American journal of case reports · 2025Article
- Views and experiences of involuntary civil commitment of people who use drugs in Massachusetts (Section 35).Drug and alcohol dependence · 2024Article
- Involuntary Civil Commitment for Substance Use Disorders in Puerto Rico: Neglected Rights Violations and Implications for Legal Reform.Health and human rights · 2022Article
- Gender Differences in Civil Commitment Hearing Experience for Persons Who Use Opioids.Journal of addiction medicineArticle
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Elizabeth A EvansElizabeth A. Evans, Ph.D., M.A., is an Associate Professor of public health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her B.A. from the University of California San Diego, her M.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her Ph.D. from the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Evans researches how health care systems and public policies can better promote health and wellness particularly among individuals at risk for opioid and substance use disorders, mental illness, and infectious diseases. Calla Harrington, M.P.H., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Promotion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Calla received her M.P.H. in Epidemiology from UMass Amherst, her clinical M.S.W. from Boston University, M.A., and her B.S.W. from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.A.M., is the Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Medical Center and affiliates. Dr. Roose received his M.D. and M.P.H. from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. He serves on the Quality Improvement Council of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a key contributor to opioid task forces in Massachusetts. Susan Lemere, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., received her M.S.W. from Smith College in Northampton, MA, a M.F.A. from Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA, and a B.A. at UMass Amherst. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in public health at UMass Amherst. David Buchanan, Dr.P.H., Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst, received his B.A., his M.P.H., and his Dr.PH., from University of California Berkeley. He is a prominent expert in public health ethics.
Calla HarringtonElizabeth A. Evans, Ph.D., M.A., is an Associate Professor of public health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her B.A. from the University of California San Diego, her M.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her Ph.D. from the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Evans researches how health care systems and public policies can better promote health and wellness particularly among individuals at risk for opioid and substance use disorders, mental illness, and infectious diseases. Calla Harrington, M.P.H., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Promotion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Calla received her M.P.H. in Epidemiology from UMass Amherst, her clinical M.S.W. from Boston University, M.A., and her B.S.W. from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.A.M., is the Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Medical Center and affiliates. Dr. Roose received his M.D. and M.P.H. from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. He serves on the Quality Improvement Council of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a key contributor to opioid task forces in Massachusetts. Susan Lemere, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., received her M.S.W. from Smith College in Northampton, MA, a M.F.A. from Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA, and a B.A. at UMass Amherst. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in public health at UMass Amherst. David Buchanan, Dr.P.H., Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst, received his B.A., his M.P.H., and his Dr.PH., from University of California Berkeley. He is a prominent expert in public health ethics.
Robert RooseElizabeth A. Evans, Ph.D., M.A., is an Associate Professor of public health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her B.A. from the University of California San Diego, her M.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her Ph.D. from the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Evans researches how health care systems and public policies can better promote health and wellness particularly among individuals at risk for opioid and substance use disorders, mental illness, and infectious diseases. Calla Harrington, M.P.H., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Promotion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Calla received her M.P.H. in Epidemiology from UMass Amherst, her clinical M.S.W. from Boston University, M.A., and her B.S.W. from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.A.M., is the Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Medical Center and affiliates. Dr. Roose received his M.D. and M.P.H. from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. He serves on the Quality Improvement Council of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a key contributor to opioid task forces in Massachusetts. Susan Lemere, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., received her M.S.W. from Smith College in Northampton, MA, a M.F.A. from Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA, and a B.A. at UMass Amherst. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in public health at UMass Amherst. David Buchanan, Dr.P.H., Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst, received his B.A., his M.P.H., and his Dr.PH., from University of California Berkeley. He is a prominent expert in public health ethics.
Susan LemereElizabeth A. Evans, Ph.D., M.A., is an Associate Professor of public health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her B.A. from the University of California San Diego, her M.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her Ph.D. from the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Evans researches how health care systems and public policies can better promote health and wellness particularly among individuals at risk for opioid and substance use disorders, mental illness, and infectious diseases. Calla Harrington, M.P.H., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Promotion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Calla received her M.P.H. in Epidemiology from UMass Amherst, her clinical M.S.W. from Boston University, M.A., and her B.S.W. from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.A.M., is the Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Medical Center and affiliates. Dr. Roose received his M.D. and M.P.H. from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. He serves on the Quality Improvement Council of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a key contributor to opioid task forces in Massachusetts. Susan Lemere, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., received her M.S.W. from Smith College in Northampton, MA, a M.F.A. from Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA, and a B.A. at UMass Amherst. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in public health at UMass Amherst. David Buchanan, Dr.P.H., Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst, received his B.A., his M.P.H., and his Dr.PH., from University of California Berkeley. He is a prominent expert in public health ethics.
David BuchananElizabeth A. Evans, Ph.D., M.A., is an Associate Professor of public health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her B.A. from the University of California San Diego, her M.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her Ph.D. from the University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Evans researches how health care systems and public policies can better promote health and wellness particularly among individuals at risk for opioid and substance use disorders, mental illness, and infectious diseases. Calla Harrington, M.P.H., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy and Promotion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Calla received her M.P.H. in Epidemiology from UMass Amherst, her clinical M.S.W. from Boston University, M.A., and her B.S.W. from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.S.A.M., is the Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Medical Center and affiliates. Dr. Roose received his M.D. and M.P.H. from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. He serves on the Quality Improvement Council of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a key contributor to opioid task forces in Massachusetts. Susan Lemere, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W., received her M.S.W. from Smith College in Northampton, MA, a M.F.A. from Pine Manor College in Brookline, MA, and a B.A. at UMass Amherst. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in public health at UMass Amherst. David Buchanan, Dr.P.H., Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst, received his B.A., his M.P.H., and his Dr.PH., from University of California Berkeley. He is a prominent expert in public health ethics.
Indiana University Bloomington · USDepartment of Public Health · MM
Funding
Massachusetts Justice Cooperative Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) Research CenterUG1DA050067 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · PI EVANS, ELIZABETH A., FRIEDMANN, PETER D · 2019 to 2023
$10.5MDrug Injection Surveillance and Care Enhancement for Rural Northern New England (DISCERNNE)UG3DA044830 · NIDA · BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER, INC. · PI FRIEDMANN, PETER D · 2017 to 2018
$1.6MNIDA NIH HHS UG1 DA050067NIDA NIH HHS UG3 DA044830
Abstract
Involuntary civil commitment (ICC) to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) prevents imminent overdose, but also restricts autonomy and raises other ethical concerns. Using the Kass Public Health Ethics Framework, we identified ICC benefits and harms. Benefits include: protection of vulnerable, underserved patients; reduced legal consequences; resources for families; and "on-demand" treatment access. Harms include: stigmatizing and punitive experiences; heightened family conflict and social isolation; eroded patient self-determination; limited or no provision of OUD medications; and long-term overdose risk. To use ICC ethically, it should be recognized as comprising vulnerable patients worthy of added protections; be a last resort option; utilize consensual, humanizing processes; provide medications and other evidence-based-treatment; integrate with existing healthcare systems; and demonstrate effective outcomes before diffusion. ICC to OUD treatment carries significant potential harms that, if unaddressed, may outweigh its benefits. Findings can inform innovations for ensuring that ICC is used in an ethically responsible way.
Indexed as
AdultAgedCaregiversFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansInvoluntary CommitmentMaleMassachusettsMiddle AgedOpioid-Related DisordersPatientsPublic HealthQualitative Research
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