Matter of Wolf

GARDEBRING, Justice.

The state appeals from a decision of the court of appeals which held that under Minn.Stat. § 253B.09, subd. 1 a chemically dependent person who refuses all treatment may not be involuntarily committed because no facility or program is capable of meeting the patient’s needs. We reverse.

The facts are undisputed. Respondent has been admitted to the Hennepin County Detoxification Center 226 times, including 47 times from February 1990 to February 5, 1991. During that period, he spent about half of the year in the detoxification center. Respondent has no permanent address; when…