Justice Minister talks drug treatment court and addiction recovery

“These individuals that are struggling with addiction – we have to give them a path to recovery and drug treatment courts are a very proven approach that’s court supervised that will allow us to give these people a chance at recovery.”

He remarked that individuals that go through the drug treatment court system must “admit their guilt upfront”. Schweitzer noted that 70 percent of those that go through the program do not re-offend.

“These are individuals that, quite often, are continually rounding through the justice system, dealing police time and hospital time, court time, going in and out of our correctional centres…if we can end that cycle, and 70 percent of the graduates do end that cycle, it really gives them their lives back but as a society, it builds stronger communities.”

As far as why Medicine Hat was chosen to be a hub for a drug treatment court, Schweitzer said officials had seen numerous people in Medicine Hat apply to go into the program in Calgary.

“The demand was there, there was a recognition locally that this was a good program, and there was a need there as well, so it ticked all the boxes, both from a geographic standpoint but also from the demographics and need in the community.”

Schweitzer said the plan is to bring both the Lethbridge and Medicine Hat drug treatment courts to an online system around the same time later this year.

“We do already have a therapeutic court operating in Lethbridge, but the drug treatment court will help bolster that and we’re hoping to have that online later this year.”

Schweitzer added that in Medicine Hat, the government also announced the establishment of a dedicated unit to deal with property crime through the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).

“That is really important as well because it works hand in hand with drug treatment courts,” he said.

“Quite often, the individuals that are out there stealing property, particularly in rural communities, are doing so to feed their addictions. They steal property, they go and monetize it for cash and they buy drugs, so we want to make sure that we do this in the right way where we’re balancing off policing as well to make sure that we cut off that cash supply chain, but also give those individuals that are struggling with addiction the ability to recover.”

SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITE & ADDICTION RECOVERY

As a result of the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) being shut down in Lethbridge (it will cease supervised consumption as of August 31), a Mobile Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) is currently operating in the city, being run by Alberta Health.

Schweitzer says the government has heard some concerns from residents, as well as law enforcement…asking to have a more balanced approach to dealing with addiction.

“That’s why you’ve seen us announce 4,000 new treatment spaces across the province of Alberta, you’ve seen some of them come to the Kainai as well as into many other communities across the province,” he said.

“Treatment is really important, and you’ve seen that be the focus of our government versus just having consumption sites, but also making sure treatment is the focal point to make sure we can help get these people well again and give them the treatment they deserve.”

Schweitzer said recovery from addiction takes time, and it’s important to provide a space for those willing to “deal with their addictions”.

“You have to have that capacity available for when they’re ready to get treatment and that’s what we’re building – that capacity to help make sure we can get these people well.”

DRUG OFFENCES

On Thursday, it was announced that federal prosecutors have been instructed to only criminally prosecute the most serious drug possession offences.

LNN asked Schweitzer for his thoughts on that, and whether that’s something that could be implemented provincially.

“Well federal prosecutors handle drug offences primarily. There is some overlap between the provincial prosecution and the federal prosecution for situations where there’s other charges relating to a particular individual, but drug offences are primarily prosecuted by the federal prosecution service,” he explained.

“That being said, their initiative works well with what we’re trying to do on drug treatment courts. One of the things we’ve actually asked the federal minister of justice is for additional resources to apply towards drug treatment courts.”

Schweitzer said the province is providing $20 million over five years for drug treatment courts in Alberta.

“We need to make sure the federal government is at the table as well. If they’re going to take this approach with their federal prosecutors, they then also need to provide the resources to the provinces to be able to respond as well.”

by Justin Goulet

Justice Minister talks drug treatment court and addiction recovery

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