((((HUGS))) You did GREAT!!!! WOW you got there in time that is sooooo wonderful!!!! AND isn't that what's important? AND he's getting the help he was screaming for???

As for the hospital, that's what they are there for. The 72 hours is the minimum for holding without consent. (ACLU would have a fit if they could hold us against our will for any longer.) BTW He has to add your name to a list before they can even tell you he is there! Privacy act.

However, he can stay longer if he chooses, and has some agreement for payment with the hospital ... parents, insurance whatever.

Hospitals do not cure. Psychiatric wards are there to stablize patients while the long term care plans are made. So they should not let him go, and you and family should make sure that he has an appointment with a psychiatrist for ongoing medication watch, and a psychologist or therapist for counseling with already booked appointments (well at least one with someone who can see him a few times a week for a while right now... while he is in crisis.)

He should also have numbers to call hotline, FRIENDS, family etc and you all should know when to call the police, doctors etc if he should fall right back into this ...

But he has made the first step and so has the system... so he is on his way to recovery...

this IS a good thing!

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>