MANDATORY ADDICTION TREATMENT WON'T WORK

As a provincial federation of 250 community mental health and addiction
programs, we know that what Mike Harris is proposing for welfare recipients
with addictions is totally impractical.

Ontario's addiction treatment system is unable to meet existing demands from
voluntary clients; any influx of mandatory clients would exacerbate this
problem.

Also, as experts at the street level in treating people with addictions, we
have the experience and expertise to know what works and what doesn't.

We do not support mandatory treatment of addictions in exchange for
receiving welfare benefits or any other government financial assistance.

We support the need for a broad range of services, accessible to all. But to
do this, we need additional community resources. Blunt threats and
stereotyping are not the answers.