‘It’s recovery or death’: Advocate blasts Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s addictions mandate

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta is in an unprecedented mental health and addiction crisis, but advocates are calling for more balance in Alberta’s addiction strategy.

The premier released her addictions and mental health mandate Tuesday, calling for additional support for youth and more addiction treatment spaces.

She says a “recovery-oriented Alberta model” is key to saving lives in the province, but Pedra Schulz from Moms Stop The Harm firmly disagrees.

“This single-minded approach, to me it’s recovery or death,” she told CityNews.

“They have previously criticized the prior NDP government for having a single-minded harm reduction approach. This government seems to have a single-minded recovery approach.”

Schulz is calling for more balance in the province’s addictions strategy. According to the provincial government, a record-breaking 182 people died of drug poisonings in April. In May, 151 deaths were reported.

“Besides harm reduction being essential in keeping people alive and well and giving them a chance at recovery, even their recovery-oriented approach is not working.”

Smith’s letter to mental health and addictions minister dan williams has also asked for the development of compassionate intervention legislation.

The idea was first mentioned by the UCP during its most recent election campaign. It could allow a family member, police officer or doctor to refer people struggling with addiction to involuntary treatment.

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Schulz meanwhile questions whether the idea is even legal.

“Involuntary care is incarceration by another name,” she said. “I am sure this legislation, if it comes about, will be challenged at every possible avenue, including legal challenges.”

“Frankly, it means that more Alberta families will arrange funerals.”

Calgary-based harm reduction advocate Danielle English agrees, saying the legislation would infringe on the rights of those struggling with addiction, and voluntary treatment is the only way to ensure that people with substance abuse issues can trust the person that is helping them.

“Just because someone is using drugs, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve their basic, fundamental rights,” she said. “They deserve respect the same way we all deserve respect.”

She adds that it will only strike fear among those struggling with addictions and keep them from reaching out for help.

“It’s the only medical crisis where we don’t listen to the people that are affected when we’re proposing solutions, English said. “It’s this strange phenomenon that continues to happen where we don’t ask the people who are actually struggling with addiction how they want to be supported and instead we come up with these ways that aren’t reflective of their actual needs.”

In response to the mandate, Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it is working to consolidate all mental health and addiction services across the province. AHS adds it will also align such programs with the government’s recovery-oriented model.

-With files from Dionne Wearmouth