Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction - Compulsory treatment of patients

38: Requirement to stay in treatment centre

You could also call this:

"You must stay in a treatment centre until the law says you can leave."

Illustration for Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

If you are a patient in a treatment centre because of a substance addiction, you must not leave the centre unless it is allowed by the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017. You have to stay in the treatment centre until you are allowed to leave. If you are released from compulsory status, you cannot be kept in the treatment centre any longer.

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This page was last updated on 14 August 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6609182.

Topics:

Health and wellbeing > Mental healthHealth and wellbeing > Public healthCrime and justice > Criminal law

37: Treatment given or authorised by responsible clinician, or

"Doctor decides your substance addiction treatment"

39: Leave of absence on compassionate, medical, or other grounds, or

"Time off from a treatment centre for a good reason, like being sick or sad, if it's safe for you."

Part 2Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction
Compulsory treatment of patients

38Requirement to stay in treatment centre

A patient must not leave the treatment centre in which he or she is detained except in accordance with this Act.
A patient who is released from compulsory status must not be further detained in a treatment centre.