I am concerned that my dearest friend of 25 yrs may be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. He was just released from the navy due to his recent rantings. He firmly believes that the CIA is out to kill him due to the fact that he is the antichrist and due to his ability to control the weather. I asked him how he knows this and he said that "they" communicate to him through mediums such as: the movies, novels and other such mediums. May I add he is a voracious reader. I have read the other questions and answers regarding this subject and I feel even more certain that schizophrenia is the catalyst here. Their was one response that said if one is even questioning their own hallucinations then schizophrenia can be ruled out. My friend is/was very smart and their is no questioning his delusions. He firmly believe this to be his reality and any talk other wise is probably "them" trying to trick him. My question is, should his parents be advised to commit him? I mean I am blown away that the army released him in this condition. unbeknownst to me, he has believed these delusions for the last year an half; at which time he embarked on his journey to the navy, inorder to stop his meth addiction. He has tampered with his brain, chemically speaking, in about every humanly way possible. I have tried to convince him to at least go get a pet scan or something- if anything just to disprove all the "non-believers" in his life- but to no avail. I mean he is in utah now and was literally just discharged from the navy three days ago. I feel as though my negligence re: this situation could one day cause me a great deal of guilt and sorrow(if you catch my drift) What do I do? On what grounds can someone be committed to a psychiatric facility? I know they may not be able to hold him long, but perhaps a glimpse of salvation from the voices and constant hostile inferences would be helpful. I know many schizophrenics opt not to take their tegretol or lithium or whatever, for I lost a mother to the illness, but I must do something!? Please help. Thank you for your time.