Originally Posted by
sadandhopeless 
I feel a lot of times people with a mental illness do not even believe they have a mental illness. I do not agree. You should never let someone with a mental illness just go becuase they have an addiction. They are more prone to violence. There is help out there.
But unless the person is danger to themselves or others (narrowly defined by the law), they have the right to refuse treatment. I've been through this in VA. Its difficult, if not impossible to get treatment for someone who does not want it. It can be difficult to get treatment for someone who does want it if they don't have the right insurance or no insurance. Mental health treatment in the US falls way short of what is needed.
And I did not advocate just letting someone go because they have an addiction. I will advocate not ruining one's own life because someone else refuses to deal with their own problems, whatever those problems may be.