The Compassionate Intervention Act
In May 2025, Alberta passed The Compassionate Intervention Act. This legislation allows family members, police, and healthcare professionals to request involuntary treatment for individuals whose substance use is deemed likely to result in harm to themselves or others.
The Act is part of the Alberta Recovery Model, which positions involuntary care as a last-resort tool to stabilize individuals and connect them with treatment. However, it has raised significant concerns among public health experts, harm reduction organizations, People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and People With Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE).
What The Compassionate Intervention Act Allows:
Involuntary assessment and treatment. A person may be detained and treated without their consent.
Applies to both adults and youth:
For adults, there must be a likelihood of substantial harm within a reasonable timeframe.
For youth, the threshold is lower, intervention can occur before imminent or life-threatening danger.
Treatment settings may include secure facilities or community-based programs.
Applications can be submitted by family members, healthcare workers, police, social workers, and others.
Key Concerns with The Compassionate Intervention Act
While framed as compassionate, the Act has prompted widespread concern from advocates and professionals across sectors:
No strong evidence that involuntary treatment leads to long-term recovery.
Significant risk of harm, including trauma, drug poisonings after release, and mistrust in systems.
Overly broad criteria for harm can lead to misuse, especially for marginalized populations.
Undermines bodily autonomy and informed consent, which are foundational to ethical care.
Involuntary treatment risks doing more harm than good. Instead of involuntary, Alberta must invest in supportive systems that empower individuals to seek recovery on their own terms, with compassion, not control.
The Compassionate Intervention Act in Action: How Involuntary Treatment Is Carried Out
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A police officer, family member, doctor, nurse, paramedic, or social worker can apply.
The applicant must attend an information session and submit a formal application including health or incident reports.
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The government reviews the application for eligibility, completeness, and bed availability.
If accepted, it is forwarded to the Compassionate Intervention Commission.
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A lawyer on the Commission reviews the file.
If the person is deemed likely to cause harm, an Apprehension Order and Assessment Order are issued.
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Police or peace officers apprehend and detain the individual, transporting them to a secure treatment facility.
The person must be informed of their rights, including to legal counsel.
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A treatment team conducts a substance use assessment.
Medical stabilization, psychological evaluations, and lab testing may occur without consent.
A recommendation is made: discharge or proceed to a care plan hearing.
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A panel (lawyer, doctor, and public member) hears the case.
The individual can attend, speak, and be represented by legal counsel (with the consent of the hearing panel chair).
The panel decides whether to issue a Care Plan Order.
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Treatment may include:
Inpatient detox or rehab (secure facility)
Bed-based or day treatment (community)
Counselling, medication-assisted treatment, or behavioural therapy
Orders last up to 3 months (secure) or 6 months (community) and can be extended.
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A post-discharge plan is created but is not guaranteed to include housing, income support, or long-term care.
The person may be required to meet ongoing conditions (e.g., attending programs).
Key Points to Keep in Mind about The Compassionate Intervention Act
Consent Is Not Always Required
During assessment, people can be treated without consent for:
Medical stabilization
Mental health needs
Substance withdrawal
Lab tests and psychological assessments
During secure care, treatment teams may administer medications or therapy even if the person objects, if the care plan permits it.
No Guarantee of Culturally Safe or Trauma-Informed Care
The Act allows but does not require cultural supports or Indigenous-led services.
There is no mandate for trauma-informed care, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, or language access.
Broad Definition of Harm
Harm can include not only danger to life, but also social impacts like:
Job loss
Relationship breakdowns
Repeat ER visits
This means poverty, trauma, or disability may be used as justification for mandated care, which can again lead to disproportionately harmful outcomes for marginalized groups, particularly those already navigating systemic inequities related to race, class, disability, or colonial violence.
Police Are Deeply Involved
Police can apprehend, transport, and re-apprehend individuals.
This makes the process feel more criminal-legal than healthcare-based.
For many, especially racialized, Indigenous, and other marginalized groups, interactions with police carry increased risk. These communities already face disproportionate surveillance, criminalization, and violence, making involuntary treatment particularly precarious and potentially harmful.
Treatment Can Be Extended Indefinitely
Orders can be renewed through repeated hearings.
There is no limit on how many times a person can be kept under a care plan order.
Aftercare Is Vague and Under-Resourced
Discharge planning is legally required but not clearly defined.
There is no guarantee of access to housing, wraparound care, or peer support after treatment ends. As evidence shows, one of the primary harms associated with involuntary treatment is the significantly increased risk of drug poisoning deaths following release from care, particularly when individuals are discharged without adequate support or stabilization.
The lack of consistent, person-led aftercare planning creates conditions that can undermine recovery and increase vulnerability to drug poisoning and death.