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Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

Preliminary provisions - Purpose

3: Purpose

You could also call this:

"This law helps people with severe substance addiction get the treatment they need to stay safe and recover."

Illustration for Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

The purpose of this Act is to help you receive compulsory treatment if you have a severe substance addiction and you are not able to make good decisions about your treatment. This treatment aims to protect you from harm and help you get a thorough assessment of your addiction. It also helps to stabilise your health with medical treatment, and protect your mana and dignity, so you can make informed decisions about your treatment and substance use. You will get help to plan for your ongoing treatment and care, and you will have the chance to choose voluntary treatment. This Act is designed to support you in your recovery from substance addiction, by giving you access to the help you need, when you need it, and by supporting your overall wellbeing.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6609064.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Mental healthHealth and wellbeing > Public healthCrime and justice > Criminal law
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2: Commencement, or

"When the law starts: one year after it's officially approved, except for some parts that start sooner."

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4: Interpretation, or

"What special words mean in the Substance Addiction Act"

Part 1Preliminary provisions
Purpose

3Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Act is to enable persons to receive compulsory treatment if they have a severe substance addiction and their capacity to make decisions about treatment for that addiction is severely impaired, so that the compulsory treatment may—

  2. protect them from harm; and
    1. facilitate a comprehensive assessment of their addiction; and
      1. stabilise their health through the application of medical treatment (including medically managed withdrawal); and
        1. protect and enhance their mana and dignity and restore their capacity to make informed decisions about further treatment and substance use; and
          1. facilitate planning for their treatment and care to be continued on a voluntary basis; and
            1. give them an opportunity to engage in voluntary treatment.