Councillors in two B.C. communities are welcoming the premier's announcement of involuntary care facilities amid public safety concerns, even as a drug policy academic says forcing people into drug treatment is ineffective.

B.C. Premier David Eby announced Friday at the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention that Surrey and Prince George would receive involuntary care facilities , though he said exact details would come later.

In making the announcement, Eby directly referenced one of the central issues of UBCM — municipalities' concern over public disorder and drug use — as the reason for the 100 new involuntary treatment beds between both communities.

Surrey and Prince George councillors expressed relief over the announcement, saying that there's an urgent need for addic

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