Angela Welz carries a poignant reminder of her daughter, Zoe, on her wrist—a heart tattooed alongside her name. Zoe’s battle with addiction began at 15, driven by grief over her grandmother’s death and her father’s terminal cancer. Despite Angela’s efforts, including two involuntary detentions under Alberta’s PChAD program, Zoe succumbed to fentanyl poisoning at 18, shortly after seeking voluntary treatment.

The PChAD program allowed Angela to involuntarily detain Zoe for detoxification, despite her reservations about its effectiveness. This experience frames Angela’s skepticism towards Alberta’s proposed Compassionate Intervention Act, which aims to expand involuntary treatment options for adults. Angela believes coercive measures won’t mitigate drug overdose deaths and can exacerbate family trauma.

Critics like psychiatrist Robert Tanguay and researcher Dan Werb echo Angela’s concerns, highlighting the lack of evidence supporting involuntary treatment’s efficacy. They argue for comprehensive, evidence-based approaches that prioritize voluntary, long-term treatment options over punitive measures.

Internationally, studies from Iran and Massachusetts suggest mixed outcomes for compulsory treatment, with concerns over human rights abuses and limited long-term success rates. Werb advocates for focusing on harm reduction and addressing the toxic drug supply as primary strategies.

Amidst rising overdose deaths in Canada, exacerbated by the pandemic, policymakers are grappling with divergent approaches. British Columbia’s experimental policies, such as decriminalization and safe supply initiatives, face scrutiny amid escalating drug-related fatalities.

The debate underscores the complexity of addressing addiction within a fractured healthcare system. While Angela mourns Zoe’s death, she urges for systemic reforms that prioritize human rights, evidence-based treatment, and tackling the root causes of addiction.

Ultimately, the narrative of Angela and Zoe reflects a broader societal struggle—a poignant reminder that behind every statistic lies a human story of loss, resilience, and the quest for effective solutions amidst a worsening crisis.

Read the full article here.