It varies from state to state. In general, involuntary commitment is done by a doctor, therapist, or court. You also mention drinking. The key is usually that the person has to be a threat to him/herself or others. People without insight may have to be committed several times until they will cooperate to keep themselves out of the hospital.

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[edit] Steps

Your first step is to protect yourself. If you are harmed by the person, you will no longer be able to help them. Thus one place to begin is by taking out a restraining order against the person who is abusing you. If they violate the restraining order, you can call the police -- mentioning the mental illness -- and they will arrest the person. Often they will bring in an emergency services team, which will include a physician who can commit the person. Even in a criminal justice process there is usually an opportunity for the person to volunteer for a detox or a mental examination.
If you are quite safe, you may have time to learn more. Contact your state chapter of NAMI, or the state department of mental health (under various names.)
Assuming you are safe, try to document the illness. Save those poisonous phone messages or warning notes, contact (safety first) others who have witnessed psychotic or threatening or suicidal talk or behavior.
With this material you can obtain a restraining order, or approach the person's physician or (if possible) psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker.
Cutbacks have shortened hospital stays dangerously. If you can participate in discharge planning, insist on real signs of progress, real supports for recovery, and real protections.
Always have a "Plan B." You can sometimes block a premature discharge by strong advocacy.

[edit] Tips

Local law enforcement is aware of mental illness, and may have training in dealing with it, or may be able to refer you. You should not let shame or stigma keep you from the police or sheriff's office.
I cannot overstress your personal safety. While the vast majority of people with a mental illness or a substance abuse issue are not violent, they are unpredictable and may not "be themselves" in a psychotic break or when someone threatens their addiction.
Research does not support the group intervention approach to substance abuse. It would appear that drinkers need to find a bottom in natural consequences.
Mental illnesses often affect judgment and as many as half of people with psychotic illnesses (Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Psychotic Depression) will not admit or actually do not know that they have a mental illness. So they don't find a bottom easily.

[edit] Warnings

Your personal safety. If this is a family member or someone you love and care for, you should stay with them as long as you can, but you should not go down with them.