Is Involuntary Treatment an Answer? A Closer Look at Addiction and Recovery

This free public event welcomes everyone to join. The program includes a moderated discussion followed by a live Q&A with the audience. A recording will be shared with registrants after the event.

Description:

In the face of a mental health and addiction crisis, the debate over involuntary treatment is heating up. While some healthcare providers, policymakers, and families are pushing for it, others question its impact and ethics. This HRI Talk goes beyond politics, focusing on the real people affected: individuals battling addiction, their loved ones, and the experts guiding them toward recovery.

Should treatment be mandatory when someone is unable to seek help on their own? Does the evidence show involuntary treatment really works? And how do families feel about this option for their loved ones? Join us for an insightful discussion featuring healthcare professionals, addiction experts, and family members as they share their diverse perspectives on this complex issue.

Objectives:

• Understand involuntary treatment and when it applies.
• Explore the evidence surrounding the effectiveness of involuntary vs voluntary treatment.
• Examine the ethical and personal considerations in the growing debate on involuntary treatment.

Featuring:

Dr. Anees Bahji, MD, FRCPC, PhD Candidate (Epidemiology)

Dr. Anees Bahji, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary.  He is internationally recognized for his research in addiction psychiatry and epidemiology. He completed a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry in 2021 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology, focusing on substance use disorders, treatment, and policy.

Angie Hamilton

Angie Hamilton is a retired lawyer and the Co-founder and Executive Director of Families for Addiction Recovery. She serves on the Board of the Ontario Family Caregivers’ Advisory Network and the Public Policy Committee of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. Angie has also contributed to advisory committees for organizations like the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario and Toronto Public Health.

Dr. Leslie Buckley, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Dr. Leslie Buckley is the Chief of the Addictions Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto.  She is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and an addiction psychiatrist specializing in providing outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. 

Moderator:

Hannah Sung
Journalist

Co-Founder, Media Girlfriends