B.C.s first involuntary treatment centre opens at Surrey correctional facility [Video]

The first beds of British Columbia’s involuntary treatment program have come online.

Premier David Eby announced that the 10 beds, located in the South Fraser Pre-Trial Centre, would begin taking patients with overlapping mental health and substance use disorders or brain injuries.

This treatment centre will focus solely on patients who have come in contact with the justice system.

“This is the population that people are anxious about, it’s people that are struggling in a way that not only compromises their safety but the safety of the community as a whole,” Eby said.

“It creates the opportunity for us to intervene in that cycle of community, criminal offence, jail, community, criminal offence, jail over and over again.”

B.C.’s NDP government pledged to expand the use of involuntary treatment ahead of last fall’s provincial election amid growing concern about repeat violent offenders, many of whom struggle with drug and mental health issues.

Last month, the government released new guidance …