(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

seven locations

Alberta drug treatment courts mark 20 years of work

Dec 17, 2025 | 10:01 PM

The provincial government is marking 20 years of Alberta’s various drug treatment courts.

The first one opened in 2005, in Edmonton, followed by Calgary two years later.

Since, others have opened in Lethbridge (2020), Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Grande Prairie (2021), and most recently in Fort McMurray (2022).

Drug treatment court, according to the province, offer an intensive, court-supervised program where participants get the accountability and support needed to break the cycle of addiction.

“When individuals are open to change, this program has remarkable success helping them avoid incarceration and reintegrate into their communities,” says Mickey Amery, minister of justice and attorney general.

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“The success of our drug treatment courts is a clear example of how our government is taking practical, effective action to reduce crime and support safer communities.”

Participants complete a minimum of 12 consecutive months of addiction treatment, attend support groups and develop skills to foster recovery and reintegrate in a healthy way.

“The drug treatment court model is evidence-based community safety in action. For twenty years, it has reduced harm, reduced reoffending and supported participants to rebuild meaningful lives,” says DeAnne Hunter, CEO at Edmonton-based enCompass Community Safety Agency.

“At enCompass, we believe every individual has the potential for growth and the right to be treated with dignity, and we see how compassionate accountability helps people create lasting change.”

About 70 per cent of participants do not reoffend, the government says.

There are $4 million in the most recent provincial budget for drug treatment courts.

Learn more about the seven drug treatment courts in Alberta below:

• Alberta Drug Court
• Calgary Drug Treatment Court
• Edmonton Drug Treatment Court Services
• Red Deer Drug Treatment Court
• Drug Treatment Court (Lethbridge and Medicine Hat)
• Drug Treatment Court Services (Grande Prairie)
• Fort McMurray Drug Treatment Court Program

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