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People in the Interest of Koons

The court upheld a 90-day involuntary commitment. Evidence showed severe substance use disorder, leading to unsafe behavior and impaired judgment that posed a danger to the individual and others.

involuntary commitmentsevere substance use disorder drug-related incapacityunsafe behaviorpoor hygieneimpaired judgmentdanger to self and others
(2025)

Brief of Amici Curiae New York Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union & Four Medical and Public Health Expertson Substance Use Disorder in Support of Respondent-Appellant Jorge C.

The brief argues a Family Court cannot condition parental rights on reducing methadone use without medical cause. It states terminating parental rights due to medication for opioid use disorder is discriminatory under the ADA.

Parental rightsmethadoneopioid use disorderMOUDFamily CourtdiscriminationAmericans with Disabilities Actsubstance use disordertermination of parental rights
(2025)

Gather Church v. Lewis County

The court blocked a county ordinance that restricted mobile health services. It found the ordinance likely discriminated against patients with disabilities and burdened a religious group's outreach.

religious grouppreliminary injunctionharm reductionsyringe-service ordinancemobile outreachdiscriminatedpatientsADAamericans with disability act
(2025)

Prevalence of mental illness, substance use disorder, and dual diagnosis among adults in custody

This study found high rates of mental illness and substance use disorders in Australian prisons. Using multiple data sources provides more accurate prevalence estimates for better health service resourcing.

mental illnesssubstance use disordersdual diagnosisprisonsprevalence estimateshealth servicesAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderAustralian prisons
(2025)

Taylor v. Wexford Health Sources

A court allowed a prisoner's disability claims to proceed against officials who denied him addiction medication, citing potential violations of the ADA and Rehabilitation Act.

ADARehabilitation Actinmate rightsaddiction medicationMAT8th Amendmentdisability rights
(2024)

United States v. Veasley

The court upheld a law banning gun possession for drug users. It ruled this ban constitutional, denying a challenge from a marijuana user who claimed it violated the Second Amendment.

2024 federal caseSecond Amendmentgun possessiondrug usersmarijuanaVeasleyconstitutional lawcourt rulinggun controlSecond Amendment rights
(2024)

State v. Kurtz

The South Dakota Supreme Court vacated Kurtz's drug possession prison sentence. The court ruled the sentencing court failed to follow probation law, despite treatment progress and no public threat.

KurtzSouth Dakota Supreme Courtdrug possessiondrug treatmentprobation violationprobation lawvacated sentencepublic safetyprison sentencecourt case
(2024)

State v. Watson

The Supreme Court vacated a prison sentence given to a drug user with no violent history. The judge incorrectly claimed drug users endanger the public when denying probation and rehab.

Mainesentencingprobationprisonpublic endangermentWatsonrehabSupreme Courtvacated sentencesubstance use
(2024)

United States v. Centariczki

The court upheld an 18-month sentence for repeated supervised release violations. Despite treatment, ongoing drug use and domestic violence justified the increased sentence.

First Circuitsupervised release18-month sentenceupward variancecocaine usedomestic violencerepeated violationsCentariczkifederal casetreatment opportunities
(2024)

United States v. Dunn

The court sentenced Dunn to prison, acknowledging his trauma, PTSD, and substance use. Despite treatment progress, some incarceration was deemed necessary.

Federal case2024 sentnecingDunn case12-month sentenceprison sentencePTSDtraumacocaine addictionalcohol usetreatment progress
(2024)

HN v. RH

The court reversed a 360-day involuntary treatment order because the required physician report lacked proper certification. This made the commitment order invalid.

KentuckyCasey's Lawinvoluntary treatmentCourt of Appeals2024physician reportcommitment orderinvalid360-day ordercertification
(2024)

State v. Avery

The court vacated Avery's reduced sentence. His claimed PTSD and alcohol use lacked formal diagnoses, meaning the trial court had no valid reason to reduce his sentence.

Florida caseAveryreduced sentencevacated sentencealcohol usePTSDformal diagnosisevidencetreatmenttrial courtdeparture
(2024)

United States v. Aldridge

The court upheld a sex trafficking conviction, finding evidence that Aldridge knowingly participated in exploiting an individual through drugs and sexual acts. His opioid use was part of a broader coercive pattern.

sex traffickinghuman traffickingopioid addictioncoercionsexual exploitationAldridge convictionfederal casecourt upheldknowing participationsufficient evidence
(2024)

State v. Brelsford

The court denied Brelsford's request for a reduced sentence despite his rehabilitation efforts and drug addiction. His violent crimes were deemed too severe to warrant a modification.

sentence reductionBrelsford caseConnecticutrehabilitationviolent crimesmodification deniedcriminal sentencingcourt decisionstate casesubstance addiction
(2024)

Krusen v. Arksansas Dep't of Human Serv.

The court ended parental rights due to parents' ongoing meth use and unsafe housing conditions, despite recent treatment efforts. This showed a failure to address the problems that caused child removal.

parental rights terminationArkansasmethamphetamine addictionunsafe housingchild removalparental neglectsubstance usereunification servicescase law
(2024)
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