Forcing people into drug treatment is on the political agenda. Here’s what the evidence says [Video]

As the toxic drug crisis continues to claim thousands of lives each year — fuelling perceptions that existing measures are failing — the notion of involuntary treatment is gaining political traction. 

Across Canada, there’s a growing number of political leaders proposing to force people into treatment for drug addiction, even though a recent research review found inconclusive evidence about whether it’s effective. 

Some experts in addiction medicine warn against seizing on forced treatment as an easy answer to a complex health and social problem. 

“It’s a response to seeing pain and suffering in front of you and saying, ‘I don’t want to have to see this, so let’s just make sure that this is out of the way,'” said Dr. Anita Srivastava, medical director of addiction medicine for Unity Health in Toronto. 

“I think it’s a frustrated response to a problem that [people] perceive as having no real solution,” said …