Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Act 2010

The objectives of this Act are—

to provide for the detention and treatment of persons with a severe substance dependence where this is necessary as a matter of urgency to save the person's life or prevent serious damage to the person's health; and

to enhance the capacity of those persons to make decisions about their substance use and personal health, welfare and safety.

This Act must be interpreted, and every function conferred or imposed by this Act must be performed or exercised, so that—

detention and treatment is a consideration of last resort; and

any limitations on the human rights and any interference with the dignity and self-respect of a person who is the subject of any actions authorised under this Act are kept to the minimum necessary to achieve the objectives specified in subsection (1).