By Cheryl Jahn

Rustad proposes involuntary treatment

Sep 12, 2024 | 4:08 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It has been a controversial issue for some time. Mental health, addictions, safe supply, open drug use and decriminalization. And the Leader of the Conservative Party has come out with support for involuntary treatment, starting with children and youth.

“The parents want to try to have their child into treatment, and if the child decides not to, then they have no option,” says John Rustad, Leader of the BC Conservatives. “And so as a parent, if you have an 11-year-old child and that child is addicted, you’re going to want to do everything you can for that child to try to give them a way to be able to move on from the addiction, to get treated and to be able to have a normal life.”

Rustad says his plan would look at compassionate intervention legislation, secure facilities for treatment for those who pose a risk to themselves or others and crisis response units. And while the proposal focuses on youth, he won’t rule out adults.

“So that’s something else we are looking at. For example, if you have somebody who dies and is brought back to life, clearly they’re at risk of harming themselves.They’re obviously not in a place to be able to make good decisions on their own behalf. And so we are actually going to look at that as well as the potential for involuntary care and for voluntary treatment to try to get them into some sort of path towards building a quality of life again.”

But for recovering addicts, forcing treatment is not the answer.

Edie Frederick

Beloved Lheidli T'enneh elder Edie Frederick passes away, community remembers her legacy

28m ago

Shocked

Electrician urges manufacturers to improve appliance safety with three-prong plugs

1h ago

Forestry Manufacturing

New manufacturing facility to bring dozens of jobs, millions of dollars to Prince George

3h ago

“When people aren’t ready for that step of treatment, once they can get out of the treatment, if they weren’t ready, they will go back out and use. And their risk of overdose is much higher because their tolerance has gone down and substances are so toxic right now that they could use the same amount they went in as using and overdose. And passed away and dead people do not recover,” explains Sarah Ferrey, a recovered addict.

And they point to one glaring omission in this region. Treatment, in the first place. Daniel Roy does outreach and knows of a large segment of the addicted population that is looking for treatment. And they need it now not in a year from now.

“There are quite a few, but it’s a vicious circle. When and if the detox facility here even answers their phones half the time I’ve been in there, I know how many beds they have and it’s never once been full. Northern Health needs to take a look at themselves. I’m not trying to call anybody out, but they need to have a serious look at that.”

He points to the empty youth containment centre on Gunn Road, potentially an ideal location. And Rustad is the first time to admit, the problem won’t be solved overnight.

“We need to build on everything from doctor-prescribed treatment to short-term treatment and recovery to longer-term recovery for those that it’s not just about getting off the addiction, but helping them, to be able to form good life habits, good life skills to involuntary treatment and also to long term care.”