Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Apr 14.
Published in final edited form as: J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2021 Feb 12;49(2):187–193. doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.200061-20

Table 3.

Risk Behaviors That Potentially Support Need for Civil Commitment

Risk Behaviors Did Not Respond Response
Danger to self
 Attempting suicide 3 6.60 ± 0.89
 Overdosing on drugs (e.g., losing consciousness or collapsing) 3 6.37 ± 1.03
 Using fentanyl or fentanyl analog 3 5.90 ± 1.40
 Mixing different kinds of drugs 3 5.53 ± 1.31
 Thinking about suicide without a specific plan 3 5.30 ± 1.15
 Coming close to being struck by a vehicle while walking or biking 4 5.07 ± 1.41
 Using higher amounts of drugs than before 3 4.50 ± 1.53
Danger to others
 Physically hurting another person in any way on purpose 3 6.27 ± 1.08
 Using a weapon like a stick, knife, or gun in a fight 3 6.17 ± 1.23
 Driving or using heavy machinery while drunk or high 3 6.17 ± 1.12
 Starting a fire on purpose 3 5.97 ± 1.88
 Having trouble caring for one’s child because of drug or alcohol use 3 5.77 ± 1.31
 Threatening to physically harm someone 3 5.60 ± 1.07
 Pressuring someone to engage in sexual activity against their will 3 5.27 ± 1.84
 Stealing from someone directly, like mugging or snatching a purse or wallet 3 4.30 ± 1.69
 Breaking into someone else’s house, building, or car 3 4.17 ± 1.64
 Having a driver’s license suspended or revoked for moving violations 3 4.00 ± 2.24
 Thinking about hurting someone else without acting on it 3 3.97 ± 1.35
 Damaging someone else’s property 4 3.59 ± 1.18
Inability to care for/protect self
 Starting a fire accidentally (e.g., leaving a burning cigarette unattended) 3 5.73 ± 1.44
 Being pressured by someone to engage in sexual activity against one’s will 4 5.62 ± 1.64
 Not keeping up with necessary medical treatment 3 5.33 ± 1.21
 Being physically hurt by another person in any way 3 4.97 ± 1.67
 Sharing needles with others 3 4.83 ± 1.55
 Not keeping up with necessary mental health treatment 4 4.83 ± 1.28
 Being malnourished 3 4.23 ± 1.57
 Being threatened by someone to do something one didn’t want 5 3.61 ± 1.64
 Having a loved one express general worry about one’s safety 3 2.90 ± 1.79
 Neglecting personal hygiene (e.g., bathing, brushing teeth, clean clothes) 3 2.70 ± 1.71
 Having trouble keeping one’s home/apartment clean 3 2.27 ± 1.48
Miscellaneous
 Hurting or being cruel to an animal or pet on purpose 3 5.20 ± 1.96
 Having sex to get money, drugs, clothes, food, transport, a place to stay, or other things 3 4.67 ± 1.54
 Being threatened or losing legal custody of one’s child 3 4.57 ± 1.87
 Experiencing a major loss (e.g. job, housing, close relationship) 3 3.43 ± 1.72
 Witnessing someone else overdose on drugs 3 3.30 ± 1.51
 Engaging in minor criminal behavior (e.g., shoplifting, vandalism, trespassing) 3 3.10 (1.58)

Data are presented as mean ± SD or n (%). n = 33 respondents.