Overview

Addiction is an illness that if left untreated will worsen and can eventually lead to a person losing their ability to make good decisions for their health and wellbeing.

The Compassionate Intervention Act allows adult family members, guardians, healthcare professionals, police or peace officers to request a treatment order for those whose addiction or substance use has made them a danger to themselves or others.

Eligible Albertans will receive stabilization, assessment, treatment and aftercare support. A multi-disciplinary team will deliver comprehensive, tailored supports focused on addressing substance use and rebuilding aspects of life destroyed by addiction.

The ultimate goal is to help people reclaim their lives and achieve better health and wellness.

Recovery is not easy, but it is possible.

Read more about the Compassionate Intervention Act

Developed with Albertans in mind

Listen to the stories of families, community leaders and system partners who have been impacted by addiction and how they think a tool like compassionate intervention will help.

“With new, increasingly deadly drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, we can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results while people are dying.”

Chief Cody Thomas, Enoch Cree Nation

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A new approach

Too many individuals, families and communities are affected by substance use or addiction. It is clear we need to do something new to support individuals who have lost the capacity or lack the ability to make life-saving decisions, like choosing treatment and recovery. 

This is why we are introducing compassionate intervention.

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Recovery focused

A health intervention prioritizing treatment, recovery and support.

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A last resort

For severe cases, when conventional supports have failed or are no longer an option.

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Guided by evidence 

Incorporates international learnings, best practices and expert advice.

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Focus on youth

Intensive treatment so young people will have a brighter future.

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Respecting rights

Built- in protection of individual rights and procedural safeguards.

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Tailored treatment and ongoing care

Individualized care by a multidisciplinary team and continued support beyond the compassionate intervention period.

“We have never felt more pain than the day we found out we lost our daughter... Addiction truly does take over a person’s life, and it is devastating that legal intervention was not available to us.”

Susan and Stephan, parents of child lost to addiction

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Intervention criteria

Compassionate intervention is just one tool to help someone pursue recovery, which is why other options should be tried first before someone is considered for compassionate intervention. To receive a care plan through compassionate intervention:

  • An adult will have to be likely to cause substantial harm to themselves or others within a reasonable time due to their substance use or addiction.
  • For youth, the threshold is slightly lower, to allow an intervention before the point of imminent danger and life-threatening harm. 

From application to aftercare

Compassionate intervention legislation offers a pathway to recovery for individuals suffering from severe substance use or addiction.

  • Application submission

    The process will begin with an application submitted on behalf of an individual who may need compassionate intervention. Applications can be submitted by adult family members, guardians, healthcare professionals, police or peace officers.

  • Application review

    A statutory director and delegated team will review applications for completeness. 
    Complete applications will be forwarded to the compassionate intervention commission, an independent body responsible for making legally binding decisions.

  • Assessment determination

    A lawyer commission member will determine if an individual meets the criteria for a compassionate intervention assessment. 

  • Apprehension and conveyance

    If an individual is deemed eligible for an assessment, they will be located and transported to a secure compassionate intervention centre. Police, with the support of peace officers, would be responsible for this.

  • Assessment and detox

    A treatment team will support the individual with medical withdrawal management and provide comprehensive screening, physical examinations and other medical and psychosocial assessments. The assessment period will be up to 72 hours. 

  • Information gathering

    Relevant information will be collected to create a comprehensive understanding of the individual's situation and evaluate the potential harm to self or others due to their substance use or addiction.

  • Commission hearing

    A 3-person commission panel (lawyer, physician and member of the public) will review the information to determine if the individual is eligible for a compassionate intervention care plan. 

    If criteria are met, a care plan will be issued. If not, the individual will be discharged with referrals to other recovery supports. 

  • Treatment

    There will be 2 types of compassionate intervention care plans.

    1. A secure care plan will provide up to 3 months of treatment in a secure compassionate intervention centre.
    2. A community-based care plan will provide up to 6 months of treatment in a community-based setting which could include bed-based treatment, day programming, medication or other community-based services.

    Care plans will be able to be renewed or amended. For example, a person may start with a secure plan and later be issued a community-based care plan. 

  • Aftercare

    The individual will receive ongoing support and resources to aid in their continued recovery.

    This may include continuing treatment in a recovery community or another community bed-based program, day programming, psychiatric care and/or ongoing work with a recovery coach. It may also include help to find housing, employment, skills training and more. 

“Alberta is a leader in recovery, and other jurisdictions are taking note... Compassionate intervention is an innovative and encouraging step forward in resolving the most complex cases of addiction.”

Dr. Keith Humphreys, Stanford University

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Respecting individual rights

While compassionate intervention legislation is unique, there is precedent in every Canadian jurisdiction, including Alberta, that allows for secure health care while still upholding individual rights and freedoms.

Safeguards will be put in place to help ensure legal rights are respected. 

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Informed of rights

Individuals will be presented with information about their rights, including the right to legal counsel and the right to speak with the Alberta Mental Health Patient Advocate.

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Right to appeal

Individuals and guardians will have the right to appeal care plan decisions.

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Right to privacy 

The collection, use and disclosure of personal and health information will comply with privacy laws such as the Health Information Act, Personal Information Protection Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

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Right to request a treatment review

Individuals, guardians and treatment teams will be able to request a review of a treatment care plan. A time-based review will occur every 6 weeks.

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Right to refuse treatment

Individuals or guardians will need to agree to most treatment. There will be certain treatment that cannot be refused, as set out in legislation. This is similar to the Mental Health Act, both here in Alberta and across every other Canadian province and territory. 

Evidence informed

No single jurisdiction mirrors Alberta’s compassionate intervention model. 

We are incorporating the best practices and learnings of treatment models from around the world to create a made-in-Alberta compassionate intervention model that works for our province.

We are also listening to the advice of experts, including the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE). 

CoRE’s policy white paper on effective compassionate intervention makes several key recommendations, many of which will be incorporated into or have informed Alberta’s compassionate intervention framework. CoRE's ongoing guidance and expertise will help support the best possible outcomes for Albertans.

“There is nothing more heart-wrenching than families watching a loved one struggle with the illness of addiction… we look forward to having this resource to rebuild health and wellness across Alberta.”

Lerena Greig, PEP Society

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Implementation steps

  • 2025

    • In May, the Compassionate Intervention Act passed in the Alberta legislature and received royal assent.
    • This year, certain sections of the Act will come into force, including provisions that allow for the recruitment of key positions that will help develop the policies and procedures needed to implement compassionate intervention.
    • Regulations will begin to be developed.
       
  • 2026

    • Construction of the northern and southern compassionate intervention centres will begin.
      • We have committed $180 million towards building 2, 150-bed adult compassionate intervention centres, one in Edmonton and another in Calgary. These centres will be operated by Recovery Alberta.
    • Some adult compassionate intervention beds will start operating in existing facilities to allow for an earlier start while the new centres are built.
    • The Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre will open and other facilities will transition to begin offering compassionate intervention care to youth. The Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act will be repealed. 
       
  • 2029

    • The northern and southern compassionate intervention centres will open.

Alberta Recovery Model

The Alberta Recovery Model, a comprehensive system of mental health and addiction care, is helping people get their lives back and is making the province a better place to call home. Everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue recovery. With the right care and support, recovery is possible.

Because of action taken under this model, we are now in a good position to provide the ongoing supports and services people will need after receiving care through compassionate intervention.

We have made significant strides to remove barriers and increase access to evidence-based treatment including building 11 recovery communities, increasing access to same day addiction treatment medication through the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program, and adding 10,000 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces.

Recovery is a life-long journey. Help is available every step of the way.

Get updates on the Alberta Recovery Model

“By prioritizing public safety and individual well-being, this act reflects our shared commitment to building healthier and safer communities across Alberta.”

Mark Neufeld, Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police

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