Canada doesn’t have enough beds to support involuntary addictions treatment, minister says
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks says there aren’t enough beds in jurisdictions across the country to support involuntary treatment for addictions and mental health.
Conservative leader came out in favour of some involuntary treatment this week
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks says there aren’t enough beds in jurisdictions across the country to support involuntary treatment for addictions and mental health.
Saks says health care is under provincial jurisdiction and it’s up to the provinces “to outline the policies that they see fit.”
But before they have discussions about compulsory care, they need to ensure adequate treatment services are in place, she says.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Thursday he’s in favour of mandatory, involuntary drug and psychiatric treatment for minors and prisoners who are found to be incapable of making decisions for themselves.
Compulsory care for mental health and addictions is being contemplated or expanded in several provinces as communities struggle to cope with a countrywide overdose crisis.
Poilievre says he’s still researching how mandatory treatment would work in the case of adults.
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks says that before the federal government contemplates involuntary or voluntary treatment, she would like to see ‘provinces and territories ensuring that they actually have treatment access scaled to need.’ Reporters pressed Saks about whether she supports the use of involuntary drug addiction treatment.
