CANADALAND BC is Forcing Drug Users into Rehab. Can it Work?
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Oct 7, 2025 Mark Page, a legislative correspondent for Black Press, discusses B.C.'s controversial shift to involuntary care for severe addiction, moving away from safe supply and decriminalization. Alison Ritter, a professor from the University of New South Wales with expertise in involuntary treatment, adds international perspective on civil commitment models. They explore the challenges, costs, and potential outcomes of forced rehab, revealing insights from Australia’s experiences while debating the balance between lifesaving care and civil rights.
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Advocate's Fear Of Carceral Treatment
- Advocate Guy Filicella fears involuntary care will turn treatment into incarceration and punishment.
- He warned that prison-like environments and lack of post-release supports re-traumatize people instead of helping them recover.
Early Facilities Already Operating
- Two early involuntary-care facilities opened in B.C.: one at a pretrial detention centre and one at Alouette Correctional Center.
- The first serves people already in the criminal justice system and the other holds people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
How Civil Commitment Works
- New South Wales uses a civil-commitment model with strict eligibility and legal oversight within 48 hours.
- The program admits people after assessment, requires prior voluntary-treatment attempts, and includes magistrate review.
