The proposed legislation would allow for both adults and youth to be placed into involuntary addiction treatment if they are deemed to likely cause significant harm to themselves or others due to their addiction or substance use. If passed, the Compassionate Intervention Act will allow 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.
The eligibility criteria for youth are comparable to the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD), which provides mandatory short-term stabilization, detox and assessment. Compassionate intervention would replace and improve PChAD, allowing for longer-term treatment, an easier application process and increased family involvement in a child’s recovery.
The Compassionate Intervention Act is not sweeping legislation that applies to every person who’s dealing with addiction or substance use. It is only for the most serious cases where all other options have failed
Budget 2025 provides $180 million over three years to build two 150-bed compassionate intervention centres in Edmonton and Calgary, with construction expected to begin in 2026. These centres, operated by Recovery Alberta, will support intakes and assessment, and delivery of compassionate intervention care for adults.
For youth capacity, Alberta’s government is planning to transition protective safe houses used for PChAD into spaces for compassionate intervention. Next year, Alberta’s government expects to open the Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre, which will more than double addiction treatment capacity for youth and include space for care under the Compassionate Intervention Act.
Eligible Albertans would receive stabilization, assessment, treatment and aftercare support. Budget 2025 provides $180 million over three years to build two 150-bed compassionate intervention centres in Edmonton and Calgary, with construction expected to begin in 2026, in addition to the opening of the Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre.