FAQs

    • The Compassionate Intervention Act is Alberta legislation that allows a person to be legally referred for involuntary treatment if their substance use or addiction is believed to make them a danger to themselves or others.

    • If approved by an independent Commission, the individual may be:

      • Apprehended by police or healthcare workers

      • Stabilized in a healthcare or secure setting

      • Placed into a treatment plan without their consent

    • People may be placed into care even if they’re not ready or willing. For those with past trauma or who’ve faced systemic discrimination, this can feel disempowering and deepen distrust in healthcare, legal, or government systems.

    • There’s also a medical risk: forced abstinence lowers tolerance, and if someone returns to use after discharge, especially without support, they’re at higher risk of drug poisoning.

    • Without strong aftercare and harm reduction, involuntary treatment can unintentionally increase harm.

    • The following people can submit a request:

      • Adult family members or guardians

      • Police or peace officers

      • Physicians or healthcare professionals

    • Treatment may occur in:

      • A secure facility (like the planned Compassionate Intervention Centres in Edmonton or Calgary)

      • A community-based setting, if appropriate and available

  • No. Many people who use substances live full, connected, and meaningful lives, whether or not they pursue abstinence or recovery. Recovery is one path, but not the only one.

    • Adults may be referred if they are likely to cause substantial harm to themselves or others within a reasonable time.

    • Youth (under 18) may be referred under a lower threshold (before imminent danger occurs).

    • The request is reviewed by the Compassionate Intervention Commission, which is made up of three individuals who are not part of the judicial system (one lawyer member, one physician member and one public member).

    • If approved:

      • The individual may be apprehended and assessed.

      • A treatment plan is developed, which may include inpatient or outpatient care.

      • After care, discharge planning is expected.

    • The Alberta government states that the Compassionate Intervention Act is based on available research and that its exact model has not been implemented elsewhere. As such, they describe this as a "made-in-Alberta" approach that is intended to be innovative and subject to future evaluation.

    • However, Alberta’s Centre on Recovery Excellence (CoRE) White Paper (2025), which informed the legislation, acknowledges that the evidence used (civil commitment for addiction) is understudied, with no randomized controlled trials and limited long-term data on effectiveness.

    • Existing research from other jurisdictions shows that involuntary treatment can increase risk of harm in some cases.

  • No. Individuals can be detained, assessed, and treated without their consent if the Commission determines that they meet the criteria.

    • The Act says treatment will be tailored to individual needs and may include:

      • Medical stabilization

      • Therapy or counselling

      • Skills-building

      • Discharge planning

    • However, the law does not require specific services such as:

      • Trauma-informed care

      • Peer support

      • Cultural safety or Indigenous-led programs

      • Guaranteed housing or long-term support

  • No. The Act encourages “robust discharge planning,” but it does not guarantee housing, peer support, or wraparound care. Many community groups emphasize that these supports are essential for long-term recovery and safety after treatment.

  • The goal of the legislation is to reduce harms and prevent deaths for individuals at high risk. However, research from other jurisdictions has shown that involuntary treatment can lead to increased risk of drug poisoning after discharge if appropriate aftercare is not in place.

    • Lack of guaranteed housing, peer support, or long-term care

    • Increased risk of drug poisoning after treatment due to decreased tolerance

    • Use of police and secure facilities

    • Lower threshold for youth, allowing earlier intervention without imminent risk

    • Potential overuse in underserved and/or marginalized communities

    • Lack of consent, raising questions about bodily autonomy and ethical healthcare