In re A.M.

*444Fearful that her adult son, the respondent A.M., faced grave harm due to his drug addiction, A.M.'s mother filed a petition in the District Court requesting that the court order his involuntary commitment to a treatment facility, pursuant to G. L. c. 123, § 35 ( § 35 ). On June 6, 2016, after an evidentiary hearing that included expert testimony, a judge issued a commitment order based on a finding that A.M. suffered from a substance use disorder that was likely to cause serious harm. A.M. appealed to the Appellate Division of the District Court, which affirmed the § 35 commitment order.1…