Vancouver Sun | J Payne/PNG
The number of British Columbians in forced treatment has risen steadily: from 11,000 in 2011 to 18,000 in 2020-21 — a number that’s believed to be even higher today. By comparison, patients in voluntary care over that decade largely remained stagnant at about 11,000 a year, according to the B.C. ombudsperson. Above: Nicole Luongo is with the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.