Involuntary Treatment of Addiction, A Review of the Negative Studies

Abstract

Dr. Tanguay will present a narrative review exploring the negative from 10 studies comparing involuntary and voluntary treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). The review published in the Canadian Journal of Addiction psychiatry concluded there is a lack of high-quality evidence to support or refute involuntary treatment for SUD. Evidence-based interventions with opioid agonist treatment was key for patients with opioid use disorder. There was significant heterogeneity in the studies reviewed. Involuntary treatment demonstrated benefits in some of the negative studies.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss the current involuntary treatment criteria in Canada;
2. Review the existing literature around involuntary treatment and the negative studies published in the largest review done on the subject; and
3. Discuss current state and next steps regarding the treatment of individuals with complex concurrent disorders.

Literature References

Bahji, A., Leger, P., Nidumolu, A., Watts, B., Dama, S., Hamilton, A., & Tanguay, R. (2023). Effectiveness of Involuntary Treatment for Individuals With Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review. Canadian Journal of Addiction, 14(4), 6-18.