United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith appears at the re-election campaign rally in Medicine Hat on May 17, with Justin Wright, the party's candidate in Cypress-Medicine Hat riding.--News Photo Collin Gallant
kking@medicinehatnews.com
With less than a week until the Alberta general election, candidates from all parties are racing to share views on issues most important to voters.
Health care is one of several issues at the forefront of discussion, and an offshoot of it in addiction treatment and support services.
Since becoming premier in October 2022, UCP leader and candidate for the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding Danielle Smith has championed a shift in the province’s approach to addiction and recovery.
During a visit to Medicine Hat last November, Smith said a focus of hers is to ensure all individuals experiencing addiction have access to treatment under a recovery-oriented system of care model – a model that promotes personalized recovery plans and community-based services focused on prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery support.
“I see it as our job to make sure everyone has an opportunity to pursue recovery,” she said. “In Alberta alone, addiction and substance abuse is costing our economy over $7 billion a year, with most of that being a result of loss of productivity and health-care costs; and that’s nothing to say the social cost to families and communities every day.”
While Smith has approved additional investments in addiction recovery, critics have called into question specifics of her recovery-oriented model, in particular the means by which she plans to treat individuals with addictions.
During a press conference last week, Smith said she would introduce a bill mandating that Albertans with severe drug addictions undergo treatment, regardless of their desire to receive it.
“(This) will allow us to save the lives of addicts who are at risk of dying from an overdose and protect those who are at risk of being randomly attacked in our communities,” said Smith.
Under Smith’s proposed bill, relatives, medical and psychological care providers and police officers familiar could petition for a mandatory treatment order through a non-criminal legal process.
When speaking to the News last Wednesday, Smith likened the proposed legislation to the province’s existing PchAD program, which was put into effect in 2006, and allows parents or legal guardians of youth 18 years of age or younger to procure a mandatory treatment order.
Smith also defended the proposed legislation from questions of whether it infringes on individual rights by stating it is a life-saving measure she developed through consultation with recovered addicts; though critics and numerous health professionals have voiced concerns over a lack of evidence backing up her claims of efficiency.
Fellow UCP candidate Justin Wright, who is vying for the Cypress-Medicine Hat seat, supports Smith’s proposed legislation, titled the Compassionate Intervention Act.
“My primary focus will always be supporting people who want treatment to access it,” said Wright. “There are however some circumstances, when someone is a danger to themselves or others as a result of their drug use, where we need a more assertive intervention. The Compassionate Intervention Act will allow us to make sure that people get into treatment while ensuring the safety of the community.”
While Wright and Smith share the same conviction, Alberta Party candidate Barry Morishita is firm in his opposition of the proposed bill.
“The Alberta party is not in favour of mandatory drug treatment,” said Morishita. “We’ve laid out what we think is the best way to deal with our addiction and mental health issues, and while certainly treatment is part of (it) we think you need other tools like supervised consumption sites and wraparound services so that when people are in treatment or they’re considering treatment, there’s other things for them when they get out.
“One of the shortcomings of the treatment system, I’m told time and time again by professionals, is the fact that when they get out, they’re put into the same situation; they don’t have family support, they don’t have income support, they don’t have places to live, and all those contribute to them not being successful (in recovery).”
Local NDP candidates Gwendoline Dirk and Cathy Hogg didn’t outright reject the proposal, but did express wariness over the efficiency of such legislation and whether it would infringe on the rights of individuals. Rather, both Dirk and Hogg said, if elected, they intend to develop their policies in collaboration with addiction professionals.
“It’s critical that we get the proper people at the table to help inform this conversation going forward,” said Hogg.
