Dignity, Respect, and Bodily Autonomy should never be optional
In May 2025, Alberta passed The Compassionate Intervention Act, a law that allows police, healthcare providers, and even family members to request involuntary treatment for people who use drugs.
The ripple effects of The Compassionate Intervention Act are already being felt in communities across the province, raising concerns about potential harm, eroded trust, and the unintended consequences of involuntary care.
Care Without Coercion is a response to The Compassionate Intervention Act.
Care Without Coercion is a non-partisan, community-powered campaign led by a coalition including: people who use drugs, people with lived and living experience, harm reduction workers, and healthcare allies.
Together, we’re challenging misinformation, sharing evidence-based education, and empowering Albertans to stand up for care rooted in choice, dignity, and compassion.
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Sign the Petition
Tell the Alberta Government: We do not support involuntary treatment.
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Explore and Learn
Access research, reports, and expert analysis on involuntary treatment and harm reduction.
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Take Action
Make your voice count. Use these tools to advocate for change.
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Speak Out
Tell your story. Personal living and lived experiences are powerful tools for change.
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Understand
Learn what the Compassionate Intervention Act means, who it affects, and how it’s being rolled out.
Why is Care Without Coercion Needed?
Research shows that involuntary treatment, as proposed in The Compassionate Intervention Act, does not reliably reduce substance use, reduce toxic drug poisoning and/or overdose harms or improve long-term health outcomes.
Involuntary treatment may lead to unintended harms, including but not limited to:
Increased risk of toxic drug poisoning and/or overdose after discharge
Re-traumatization
Loss of trust or increased mistrust in healthcare systems
Disengagement from voluntary care.
Involuntary treatment also contributes to the broader surveillance and criminalization of people who use drugs, particularly those already facing structural inequities (underinvested and underrepresented communities).