Drug treatment courts to open across Canada

Community Action, June 16, 2003

OTTAWA -- The federal government will provide up to $23 million over five years to expand its drug treatment court program as part of the renewal of Canada's Drug Strategy.

The increase in allocations for the drug courts is part of the changes in Canada's Drug Strategy ($245 million over five years) and includes changes that will treat possessions of small amounts of cannabis as misdemeanors rather than crimes, subject to fines or alternative penalties. The law creates tougher penalties for marijuana growing operations. The strategy also includes education, prevention and health promotion initiatives to deal with substance use and abuse.

Drug courts, which have been operating in Toronto since 1998 and in Vancouver since 2001, will be established in other parts of Canada starting in 2004.

According to government reviews the Toronto and Vancouver Drug Treatment Courts have shown promise in reducing addiction and recidivism. "Although these results are still preliminary, today's investment will permit researchers to implement and continue an evaluation program that will measure the long-term effectiveness of drug treatment courts," Minister Denis Cauchon said.

A drug treatment court program emphasizes the treatment rather than the incarceration of addicts. Participants follow a structured outpatient program designed to reduce their dependence on illegal drugs. If unsuccessful, an offender will be sentenced as part of the regular court process.