The Abbotsford Drug War Survivors (DWS) have sent a letter to the province, saying they are concerned about potential human rights violations related to involuntary treatment.

The province announced in March that new guidelines had been released to address when the Mental Health Act can be used to treat people with substance-use and mental-health disorders against their will.

B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 first involuntary care beds 香蕉视频直播� for incarcerated men 香蕉视频直播� opened in April at Surrey Pretrial Services Centre.

A second facility will open soon on the grounds of the Alouette Correction Centre in Maple Ridge.

The DWS letter is addressed to the Ministry of Health, Premier David Eby and Dr. Daniel Vigo (B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders) and the BC human rights commissioner.

香蕉视频直播淲e are extremely concerned about the human rights violations inherent in detaining people without consent,香蕉视频直播� the letter states.

香蕉视频直播淭he criteria for 香蕉视频直播榠mpairment香蕉视频直播� under the Mental Health Act is not a clearly defined standard, and we are deeply alarmed that it could be applied inconsistently or unethically, especially against people living in poverty, using drugs or navigating homelessness and trauma.香蕉视频直播�

The letter says it is 香蕉视频直播渁bhorrent香蕉视频直播� to dedicate resources to involuntary care when the voluntary system is 香蕉视频直播渞iddled with barriers, long wait lists, inconsistent quality and lack of regulatory oversight.香蕉视频直播�

The DWS says communities need more access to voluntary treatment options, detox, harm-reduction services and affordable housing.

香蕉视频直播淭hese basics needs and routes to healing are not being met. Meeting these gaps in care is where public funds should be directed, not toward coercive systems of control,香蕉视频直播� the letter states.

DWS says that pursuing forced treatment is fiscally irresponsible and 香蕉视频直播渁 failure of justice, compassion, human rights and evidence.香蕉视频直播�

In its letter, the organization asks the province to address several questions:

香蕉视频直播� What services will be provided to deal with the fact the people are at 香蕉视频直播渟ignificantly higher risk香蕉视频直播� of a fatal overdose after being discharged from treatment?

香蕉视频直播� What will the discharge process look like 香蕉视频直播� such as access to safe, stable housing and other supports, including trauma counselling?

香蕉视频直播� Will individuals have access to their phones, internet and means of communicating with their support networks and what are the policies around visitor access and decision-making power over what medicine/drugs they are given?

香蕉视频直播� What must someone do to 香蕉视频直播渨in香蕉视频直播� their release and will there be a clear and fair process for people to advocate for their own discharge?

香蕉视频直播� What is the process for someone being forced into treatment 香蕉视频直播� such as the role of police 香蕉视频直播� and what is the plan to ensure the person is aware of their rights and for those rights to be protected?

香蕉视频直播� What is the plan to ensure the program operates in a manner that does not violate a person香蕉视频直播檚 Charter rights or to ensure that the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People is followed?

香蕉视频直播淭hese questions are not hypothetical. We represent real people whose lives are directly impacted by these decisions,香蕉视频直播� the DWS states in its letter.

Other groups that advocate for drug users and their families have also spoken out against the new guidelines.

The province has said that the new guidelines will improve care for those with overlapping mental-health and addiction challenges and brain injuries from toxic-drug poisonings.