This cuts people off from the very services which should provide help and support, thus making a deterioration of their condition more likely. There are occasions where compulsory intervention is necessary as a last resort. However, compulsion can be counterproductive, removing people s self-determination and dignity, and possibly deterring them from future contact with services. The aim of legislation should therefore be to reduce the use of compulsory powers. There is a strong risk however that extending compulsion to the community setting will have the opposite effect.
Medication is the easiest treatment to administer compulsorily.
CTOs will be unable to deal with people who require services such as counselling which require voluntary participation. In some cases medication can be unhelpful. Where medication is helpful, it needs to be combined with access to a variety of services, support, adequate housing and employment. If CTOs focus only on medication they will be ineffective. Treatment needs to be defined to incorporate a wider range of therapeutic interventions.