Compassionate Intervention

Dr. Rob Tanguay, Dr. Keith Humphreys, Dr Vijay Seethapathy

Panel 7 Keynote Speaker

September 24 Day 2 – Keynote Exhibition Hall 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Compassionate Intervention intervening in our most unwell, vulnerable and most suffering individuals

Session Description

Dr. Rob Tanguay will present on the concept of Compassionate Intervention as it is currently being explored and implemented in Alberta. Drawing from extensive evidence, including the largest review published in the Canadian Journal of Addiction, he will outline how substance use disorders can progress to levels of severity that pose significant risk to both the individual and the public. Alberta’s evolving stance on involuntary care is grounded in the recognition that some individuals may be so acutely impacted by addiction that they are incapable of making decisions in their own best interest, necessitating structured and, at times, enforced pathways to care.

The role of social pressure in ambivalence during early recovery

Building on the work of Dr. Keith Humphreys, the presentation will challenge conventional distinctions between voluntary and mandated treatment. As Dr. Humphreys has noted, addiction is not like chronic pain or cancer—conditions for which people generally seek help willingly. In contrast, addiction remains rewarding to the brain even as it causes profound harm, which often makes individuals resistant to seeking help without some form of external pressure. Whether that pressure comes from courts, families, friends, or employers, it often plays a critical role in moving people toward treatment. Thus, official mandates are not fundamentally different from so-called “voluntary” treatment, and it should not be surprising that outcomes for both are similarly effective. This reframing supports the argument that Compassionate Intervention can be both ethical and clinically sound when appropriately applied.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the current criteria and legal frameworks for involuntary addiction treatment across Canadian provinces, with a focus on recent developments in Alberta.
  • Critically evaluate the existing literature on involuntary treatment, including findings from the largest systematic review on the topic and the implications of studies reporting negative outcomes.
  • Explore the current state and future directions for treating individuals with complex concurrent mental health and substance use disorders.
  • Understand the role of ambivalence in addiction and how it influences motivation and engagement in treatment.
  • Examine the role of social pressure—such as influence from family, employers, and the justice system—in motivating individuals to seek addiction treatment.
  • Compare outcomes between voluntary and mandated treatment, highlighting the evidence that shows similar effectiveness across both pathways.
  • Identify ethical considerations and potential unintended consequences of mandated care within a harm-reduction framework, especially in regions like British Columbia.
  • Discuss how involuntary treatment policies can be adapted to align with BC’s person-centered, low-barrier, and harm-reduction-oriented approach to care.
  • Reflect on the historical and ongoing impacts of coercive health and social policies on Indigenous communities, and why any involuntary care model must be trauma-informed and culturally safe.
  • Recognize the importance of Indigenous leadership, self-determination, and traditional knowledge in shaping responses to substance use and mental health crises

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.

Day, N., Bahji, A., Tanguay, R., & Adair, C.E. (2025) Effective and compassionate intervention: Civil commitment for individuals with severe addiction in Alberta, Canada. Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence.

Humphreys, K. (2023). Addiction: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Polcin, D. et al., (2012). Pressure to reduce drinking and reasons for seeking treatment. Contemporary Drug Problems, 39, 687-713.

RAND Corporation. (2025). 24/7 Sobriety Program. Available online at https://www.rand.org/well-being/justice-policy/projects/24-7.html

BIO

Dr. Rob Tanguay BSc (Hons), MD, FRCPC, CISAM, CCSAM 
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery
Senior Medical Lead, Compassionate Intervention, Recovery Alberta
Senior Medical Lead, Addiction Services, Recovery Alberta
Co-Founder, Community RAAM, AHS
Commissioner, Calgary Police Commission
Member, Alberta Criminal Code Review Board
Director and Chair, Canadian Addiction Counsel
Hotchkiss Brain Institute & Mathison Centre for Mental Health

Dr. Tanguay is a psychiatrist who completed two fellowships, one in Addiction Medicine and Pain Medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor with the departments of Psychiatry and Surgery at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. Dr. Tanguay is the Senior Medical Lead for the Compassionate Intervention division of Recovery Alberta. He is the co-founder and co-developer of the Community Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic for Recovery Alberta where he works clinically.

Dr. Tanguay is member of the Calgary Police Commission, legislated to manage the annual budget (~$600 million) as well as to establish policies providing for efficient and effective policing. He is the Co-Chair of the Western Canadian Addiction Forum and Chair of the Canadian Addiction Counsel. He is a founding director of the Canadian Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and Co-Chair of the conference. Dr. Tanguay has been heavily involved in health policy including helping to lead the Alberta Psychedelic Legislative Committee and the Alberta Safe Supply Legislative Committee.  He was a member of the Alberta Recovery Expert Advisory Panel directly advising the Alberta Minister of Addiction and Mental Health. He was a member of the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel for the Government of Alberta and was a member of the Supervised Consumption Review Committee.

Dr. Tanguay has been recognized for his work and is the 2021 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recipient of the Early Career Leadership Award, was inducted into the University of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society, is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.


Dr. Tanguay has presented over 150 invited, plenary, and keynote lectures on three continents speaking on policy, addiction, pain, and mental health. He has received $9,327,494 in operational and research grants. Academically, he is involved in research in trauma, addiction, chronic pain, opioids, cannabis, and psychedelics and is a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education at the University of Calgary.

Dr. Vijay Seethapathy, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Vijay Seethapathy is a psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Officer of BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS), a division of the Provincial Health Services Authority in British Columbia. He has been instrumental in leading initiatives related to involuntary treatment of high-risk substance users, emphasizing clinical, legal, and ethical considerations in the management of complex addiction cases.

Dr. Seethapathy’s work focuses on integrating evidence-based practices into the treatment of individuals with severe substance use disorders, advocating for approaches that balance patient autonomy with the need for structured care. His leadership in BCMHSUS reflects a commitment to advancing mental health and substance use services in alignment with provincial health strategies.

Join us for the Alberta Recovery Summit, hosted by the 9th Annual Recovery Capital Conference taking place on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2025.

 Session Streams

  • Health Care and Recovery
  • Indigenous Health
  • Occupational Health and Safety

 Key Details

  • DAY ONE September 23rd – 5:30 pm 6:30: Early Badge Pick Up and Networking Reception, 6:30 pm to 8 pm Pre Conference Presentation
  • DAY TWO September 24th – 8:45 am to 5 pm : Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions
  • DAY THREE September 25th – 9 am to 5 pm: Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions

 Hotels

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Schedule

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