Cited by 21Healthcare Decision-Making and RestraintsSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesOpioid Use Disorder Treatment

The perspectives of people who use drugs regarding short term involuntary substance use care for severe substance use disorders

Open access
Chau, Leena W., Erickson, Margaret, Vigo, Daniel, Lou, Hayami, Pakhomova, Tatiana, Winston, Mark L., MacPherson, Donald, Thomson, Erica +1 more·2021·International Journal of Drug Policy

Abstract

Background In the Canadian Province of British Columbia (BC), the BC Mental Health Act permits involuntary care for treating mental disorders. However, the Act has also been applied to provide involuntary care to individuals with a primary substance use disorder, in the absence of specific guidelines and legislation, and with insufficient understanding of perspectives of people who use drugs (PWUD) regarding this approach.Methods As part of a larger mixed-methods research project providing an overview of involuntary care for severe substance use disorders in BC, three focus groups were convened with: PWUD, families and caregivers, and Indigenous community stakeholders. This analysis examines perspectives from the focus group of PWUD, consisting of nine participants from local and regional drug user and advocacy organizations regarding involuntary care. A qualitative descriptive approach and thematic analysis were conducted, using a coding framework developed deductively and inductively, and participant perspectives were interpreted drawing on problematization theory.Results Participants did not endorse the use of involuntary care, instead emphasizing significant changes were needed to address shortcomings of the wider voluntary care system. When asked to conceptualize what an acceptable involuntary care scenario might look like (under hypothetical and ideal conditions), participants recommended it should include: individual control and autonomy, peer advocacy in decision-making, and elimination of police and criminal justice system involvement from treatment encounters. Participants saw involuntary care to be an inappropriate approach given the shortcomings of the current system, noting also problems inherent in its use to manage severe SUDs and imminent harm, and prioritized alternate approaches to offsetting risks.Conclusion Improving voluntary care for substance use, along with addressing the social determinants of health that put individuals at risk of problematic substance use and harm, were prioritized in participant perspectives. Participant comments regarding the use of involuntary care bring forward alternate solutions in the context of the opioid overdose crisis, and a reconceptualization of the 'problem' of managing severe substance use disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103208

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Authors
Chau, L. W., Erickson, M., Vigo, D., Lou, H., Pakhomova, T., Winston, M. L., MacPherson, D., Thomson, E., & Small, W.
Affiliations
  • Simon Fraser University (CA)
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
  • Fraser Health (CA)
Corresponding author
Small, Will
Venue
International Journal of Drug Policy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-11
Volume
97
Pages
103208
ISSN
0955-3959 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3165417943
Cited by
21
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Drug Policy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • cIRcle (University of British Columbia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Open Collections
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Keywords
drug users, individual autonomy, peer advocacy, social determinants of health, opioid epidemic
MeSH terms
British Columbia, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Drug Users, Drug Overdose

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