I also wanted to ask if a patient can sign an agreement that will prohibit him from leaving. Of course the patient will agree to sign it. The reason we ask is because temptations happen and leaving will pretty much let everything go down the drain.

No private institution can prohibit a person from leaving a facility by force. They can however enforce a rule that says if you leave the facility you won't be allowed to return. There are rules in place at Olympia house and other rehabilitation facilities that require compliance cooperation and Strict adherents to the rules by its participants Who truly want to become well. For those who don't wanna take the opportunity to turn their lives around like I did their free to walk out the front door and to ruin their lives at will. The only place they can really for have you from leaving as jail and that's where some people have to end up before they realize they have a problem.

By law, Olympia House has to be a voluntary facility and cannot hold people against their will. Therefore, no document would allow us to hold someone who didn’t want to be here. The only involuntary treatment that we are aware of is a 5150 for psychiatric conditions; where the person is a danger to themselves, others and gravely disabled. These can only be placed temporarily and the individual has to go to the county psychiatric services.