Drug treatment courts are popular but do they work and are they ethical and appropriate for Canada?

Currently Canada is experimenting with the implementation of drug treatment courts. Pilot projects are underway in both Toronto and Vancouver. In the U.S., drug courts emerged as a response to the overcrowding of the prison system, the end product of the revolving door of substance dependent people moving through the court system. However, this expansion was not accompanied by any rigorous evaluation or critical reflection as to whether drug treatment courts can achieve their desired outcomes or if they are appropriate for dealing with substance dependent offenders. The purpose of this article is to take a critical look at this phenomenon and to discuss whether the drug court model is suitable for Canada.