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e31(118) September 2010, Wellington, New Zealand | RepoRt 118 CompulSoRy tReatmeNt foR SubStaNCe DepeNDeNCe a RevieW of the alCoholiSm aND DRug aDDiCtioN aCt 1966 e31(118) september 2010, wellington, new Zealand | reporT 118 Compulsory TreaTmenT for subsTanCe DepenDenCe a review of The alCoholism anD Drug aDDiCTion aCT 1966 The law Commission is an independent, publicly funded, central advisory body established by statute to undertake the systematic review, reform and development of the law of new Zealand. its purpose is to help achieve law that is just, principled, and accessible, and that reflects the heritage and aspirations of the peoples of new Zealand. The Commissioners are: right honourable sir geoffrey palmer sC – President Dr warren young – Deputy President emeritus professor John burrows QC george Tanner QC val sim The general manager of the law Commission is brigid Corcoran The office of the law Commission is at level 19, hp Tower, 171 featherston street, wellington postal address: po box 2590, wellington 6140, new Zealand Document exchange number: sp 23534 Telephone: (04) 473-3453, facsimile: (04) 471-0959 email: [email protected] internet: www.lawcom.govt.nz national library of new Zealand Cataloguing-in-publication Data new Zealand. law Commission. Compulsory Treatment for substance Dependence: a review of the alcoholism and Drug addiction act 1966. (law Commission report ; 118) isbn 978-1-877569-03-6 (pbk.—isbn 978-1-877569-04-3 (internet) 1. new Zealand. alcoholism and Drug addiction act 1966. 2. alcoholism—Treatment—law and legislation—new Zealand. 3. Drug abuse—Treatment—law and legislation—new Zealand. new Zealand. i. new Zealand. law Commission. i. Title. ii. series: new Zealand. law Commission. report ; no. 118. 344.930446—dc 22 issn 0113-2334 (print) issn 1177-6196 (online) This paper maybe cited as nZlC r118 This report is also available on the internet at the law Commission’s website: www.lawcom.govt.nz ii Law Commission Report The hon simon power minister responsible for the law Commission parliament buildings wellingTon 20 september 2010 Dear minister, nZlC r118 – Compulsory TreaTmenT for subsTanCe DepenDenCe: a review of The alCoholism anD Drug aDDiCTion aCT 1966 i am pleased to submit to you law Commission report 118, Compulsory Treatment for Substance Dependence: A Review of the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966, which we submit under section 16 of the law Commission act 1985. yours sincerely Warren Young Deputy president Compulsory Treatment for Substance Dependence iii FOREWORD in 2007 the associate minister of health invited the law Commission to review the misuse of Drugs act 1975. a number of significant problems, particularly over the adequacy of the legislative framework to deal with new psychoactive substances, were identified alongside long-standing concerns over them isuse of Drugs act’s fitness for its purpose. Thel aw Commission’s review of the misuse of Drugs act is comprehensive and wide-ranging. The objective is to propose a contemporary legislative framework for regulating drugs that supports the effectiveness of drug policy. in the course of our review, we reached the view that the effective operation of a new legislative framework for drugs would also require an overhaul of the alcoholism and Drug addiction act 1966. The government’s methamphetamine action plan requires a review of the act and a report back to Cabinet by november 2010. we therefore agreed with the ministry of health that we would include this act within our project. while work on the Commission’s review of the misuse of Drugs act is now well advanced, it involves a broad range of issues. a full report on all aspects of that review is consequently still some months away. we have therefore prioritised our review of the alcoholism and Drug addiction act so that we can present our recommendations within the timeframe set by the government’s methamphetamine action plan. while the views expressed and the recommendations made are those of the law Commission, the proposals were developed with input and assistance from the ministry of health. The Commission expresses its gratitude to the ministry for its assistance with this work. The Commissioners responsible for this report are val sim and warren young, and the senior legal and policy adviser is Jo Dinsdale. Warren Young Deputy president iv Law Commission Report Compulsory Treatment for Substance Dependence: A Review of the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966 ConTenTs foreword .............................................................................................................................iv summary 3 introduction .........................................................................................................................3 alcoholism and Drug addiction act 1966 .........................................................................3 when is compulsory treatment justified? ..........................................................................4 other jurisdictions ..............................................................................................................5 a new compulsory treatment regime .................................................................................6 summary of reCommendaTions 10 Chapter 5 ............................................................................................................................10 Chapter 6 ............................................................................................................................14 ChapTer 1 introduction ...................................................................................................................................15 Drug harm .........................................................................................................................15 Drug policy and treatment ................................................................................................16 Coherent framework for treatment .................................................................................18 Compulsory treatment .......................................................................................................18 ChapTer 2 alcoholism and Drug addiction act ............................................................................................20 introduction .......................................................................................................................20 Coverage of act ..................................................................................................................20 Certified treatment facilities .............................................................................................21 Committal under the act ...................................................................................................22 adequacy of medical evidence .........................................................................................25 legal representation ...........................................................................................................26 appeals ...............................................................................................................................26 Compulsory Treatment for Substance Dependence 1 Contents Discharge of patients .........................................................................................................27 role of the minister of health ..........................................................................................29 accessing treatment ..........................................................................................................30 offences ..............................................................................................................................30 ChapTer 3 when is compulsory treatment justified? ....................................................................................33 introduction .......................................................................................................................33 The right to refuse treatment ............................................................................................33 Justifiable limits ..................................................................................................................37 severe alcohol and drug dependence ...............................................................................47 ChapTer 4 other jurisdictions ........................................................................................................................52 introduction .......................................................................................................................52 new south wales ..............................................................................................................52 victoria ...............................................................................................................................55 Tasmania ............................................................................................................................57 northern Territory ............................................................................................................58 remaining australian states .............................................................................................59 united Kingdom .................................................................................................................59 summary

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