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By The Canadian Press

NDP says plan is 'doomed'

UCP promises to allow mandatory drug treatment, open addiction and mental health beds

May 15, 2023 | 6:01 PM

CALGARY – Danielle Smith says a United Conservative Party government would introduce a law to allow mandatory drug treatment if it’s re-elected May 29.

The UCP leader says the proposed Compassionate Intervention Act would allow a family member, doctor, psychologist or police officer to petition a judge to issue a treatment order.

“If re-elected, we will continue creating opportunities for those who are unwell to seek voluntary treatment with no barriers. But there are people who are suffering who are in imminent danger to themselves and others as a result of their drug use. We need a more assertive intervention to ensure they get better, to save their lives, and to keep our communities safe,” said Smith in a release.

Smith made the announcement at a news conference in Calgary and promised several measures to improve public safety by addressing mental health issues and the ongoing addictions crisis which the UCP says, far too often, has led to social disorder and out-of-control violence.

“It is the number one job of a government to ensure that people are safe when they walk down the street,” said Smith. “Albertans shouldn’t have to look over their shoulders in their own communities.”

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The UCP says a court judge would be able to divert an addict who is in imminent danger of causing harm to themselves or others to engage in treatment instead of jail. Factors that would be considered, they say, include past history of overdose, history of harm to others, and the likelihood of those things occurring in the future.

A court judge would be able to divert an addict who is in imminent danger of causing harm to themselves or others to engage in treatment instead of jail. Factors that would be considered, they say, could be past history of overdose, history of harm to others, and the likelihood of those things occurring in the future.

They say treatment orders could include evidence-based medication treatment like Opioid Agonist Treatment, outpatient counseling, medical detox, inpatient addiction treatment, or attendance in an in-patient treatment program

“The reality of being homeless for seven years still haunts me. I don’t think many would survive the experiences I had during that time, including incarceration, overdose, and a whole winter sleeping outside because I had no idea of the resources that were available 15+ years ago. Without the intervention that I received, I wouldn’t be alive today. I have also lost far too many family and friends to addiction who would still be here if the Compassionate Intervention Act were in place,”  said Earl Thiessen in a release, Executive Director of the Oxford House, a recovery centre in Calgary.

The UCP said various states in the U.S. have similar intervention measures but don’t have enough accompanying treatment programs as Alberta. The provincial Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD) already allows parents to get a court order for mandatory treatment.

“We’ve also seen great success with treatment orders in drug courts and with many young people through the PChAD program. But at the end of the day it’s more successful than doing nothing and it’s better than the other ends of jails and death,” said the party in a release.

The measures are part of the UCP’s focus on a “recovery-oriented system of care.” For four years, they say the party has added 10,000 fully-funded treatment spaces to provide detox, treatment, and recovery services for up to 29,000 Albertans every year for free and eliminated the $40-per-day user fees to access publicly funded addiction treatment.

Smith says the UCP would build more than 700 new addiction beds at 11 treatment centres in several communities, including four First Nations.

She says it would also build five 75-bed mental wellness centres to add 375 inpatient mental health beds.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley says she agrees the issue needs a lot of work and focus by the next government, but adds Smith made the announcement without first talking to experts and those on the front lines.

Lori Sigurdson, Alberta NDP candidate for Edmonton-Riverview, made the following statement in response to the UCP’s comments on substance use treatment:

“More Albertans have died of preventable drug poisonings on the UCP’s watch than at any other time in Alberta’s history. Each death leaves a grieving family and community behind.

“The UCP likes to talk about how much money they have spent, but the appalling death toll and rise in social disorder on our streets clearly shows the UCP approach is a deadly failure.

“The UCP’s scheme for mandating treatment without consent is also doomed to failure, both from a clinical and legal standpoint.

“An Alberta NDP government will support a range of necessary services from harm reduction services, treatment beds, abstinence options, drug checking, access to naloxone and recovery. We will provide comprehensive patient-centred care with our Family Health Teams plan.

“We will invest in essential social supports, including housing 40,000 more Albertans through social housing and rental supplements; income support; and five insured mental health visits per year for every Albertan. We will put 150 more police officers on the street, alongside 150 additional community support workers.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)