It is political policy to force people into drug treatment. This is what the evidence indicates.
The idea of mandatory treatment is gaining political traction as the poisonous drug issue continues to take thousands of lives annually, feeding beliefs that current policies are ineffective. Political leaders across Canada are increasingly suggesting that people be forced to undergo drug addiction treatment, even though a recent study of the literature found conflicting evidence regarding its efficacy.
Others believe that considering the severity of the situation, involuntary therapy ought to be one of the choices accessible. According to the most recent official statistics released in September, deadly opioids have claimed the lives of over 47,000 Canadians since 2016.
“More study is necessary.”
Global studies on the efficacy of involuntary treatment were recently examined by a task committee established by the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. The task team examined 42 international studies, and the Canadian Journal of Addiction released its report in 2023. Several parties supported forcing people into addiction treatment during the most recent provincial election campaigns in British Columbia and New Brunswick.
The provincial government of Ontario is being urged by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown to start a pilot program that would provide involuntary drug addiction treatment in his municipality. Premier Danielle Smith’s administration has pledged legislation in Alberta, making it the province most likely to move forward with compulsory treatment.
Insufficient availability of voluntary therapy
However, others who oppose forced treatment contend that the underlying cause is the increasing toxicity and strength of the illegal drug supply, which has made the substances more potent, addictive, and lethal than they were when heroin dominated the street trade.
According to Dan Webb, executive director of the Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, proponents of coerced treatment believe that the addict is to blame.
In the International Journal of Drug Policy, Werb was the principal author of a 2015 review of studies on the efficacy of mandatory drug treatment. Only two of the nine studies that were analyzed at the time demonstrated that mandatory treatment contributed to a decrease in criminal reoffending.
Wait times in Alberta are significantly less than those in Ontario.
According to data from Ontario’s Ministry of Health, the average wait period for admission to intensive residential treatment programs—which are intended for individuals with persistent substance use—is 72 days after the assessment.
According to data from Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction, the typical wait time to start residential treatment varies between 20 and 37 days. More than 2,700 residential treatment and recovery beds and 7,700 detox spaces have been added since 2019, increasing capacity by more than 55% overall. Smith has talked openly about his four years of homelessness in Vancouver due to his methamphetamine addiction. He attributes his recuperation to a police ultimatum.
Conclusion:
Mandatory drug treatment proposals are gaining traction in Canada as the opioid crisis persists, despite conflicting evidence on effectiveness. Proponents argue it addresses urgent needs, while critics emphasize that increasing treatment availability and reducing illegal drug toxicity are critical steps. Whether mandatory treatment can significantly impact the crisis remains a contentious topic in Canada’s drug policy landscape.