Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal MP For Vancouver South Supports Screening Prisoners in Federal Jails for ADHD

Ujjal Dosanjh ex BC Premier, Ex BC Attorney General, Ex federal Health Minister
Ujjal Dosanjh, from Wikimedia

Last Saturday, shortly after I tweeted about Vancouver South Liberal MP and past BC Premier & Attorney General and Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh‘s (on Twitter @ujjaldosanjh ) signs been destroyed or defaced on Twitter,

I was going down 41st ave and noticed Vancouver Quadra Liberal MP Joyce Murry signs were knocked down. Soon, I noticed some of Vancouver South Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh’s signs trashed or defaced, one coincidentaly within 2 blocks of his conservative opponent Wai Young’s campaign HQ.

I went to the Fraser area & later wandered past Ujjal Dosanjh’s HQ. So I walked in to tell them about their trashed signs.

After telling a volunteer about their trashed signs (a few could be random vandals, but not 35) I saw Vancouver South Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh in the office. So, naturally, I asked him this question that I’ve asked other federal politicians,

“Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD?”

Surprisingly, he was aware of the connection between ADHD and crime. BC is very backward on ADHD especially adult ADHD. I then asked him “The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?”

He answered, “Yes I would”. Ujjal then went on to say that they should be screened for ADHD in the court system before they even reach prison.

I totally agree. Judge David Admire did this nearly 20 years ago in his 2-3 year court in Seattle. His son had ADHD & he noticed many people in his court seemed to have ADHD. He developed a screening program for prisoners with ADHD and learning disabilities.

If they screened positive, they got properly diagnosed and had a choice of getting treatment for ADHD and or LD, learning how to properly manage ADHD with skills, pills, how to self advocate etc or going to jail.

The ones who got treated for ADHD had their recidivism (return to prison) rates go down massively compared to controls.

20-30% + of drug addicts and alcoholics have ADHD peer reviewed clinical studies show but properly managed ADHD can be a competitive edge. Many entrepreneurs have ADHD. See the top ten advantages of ADHD in a high tech career

Vancouver’s mental health court last time I asked didn’t bother screening for ADHD. Too bad.

I was very pleasantly surprised Ujjal Dosanjh knew about ADHD and crime since most politicians I talk to about this have no clue about the massive disproportionate number of prisoners in Canadian jails who have ADHD. I thanked him and told him about my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime

I thanked him and told him about my blog post on 15 peer reviewed studies on ADHD and crime Up To 45% 0f Prisoners Have ADHD Studies Show. Crime & Jail Are Costly, Treatment Is Cheap

So thank you Ujjal Dosanjh for choosing science and evidence over ideology and theology in regards to ADHD and crime. I hope other Canadian politicians do the same.

Health is mainly a provincial responsibility in Canada, but the Federal govt is responsible for jails. So if you or someone you know has ADHD why don’t you ask your local candidate or their party leader if they have a chance if they support screening prisoners in Canadian Federal prisons for ADHD?

Maybe also ask them if they’ll properly diagnose those who screen positive by people who know ADHD and treat them in jail not only with long-term medications that can’t be abused like the short term ones but more importantly also therapy so they learn self-awareness and skill so they don’t come back to jail at a cost of $101,000 a year to the Canadian taxpayer?

Ideally you want them to screen children and adults for ADHD BEFORE they end up in jail, get medical professionals trained on ADHD in kids and adults and do a national anti-stigma/ ADHD facts campaign.

But Canadian provincial politicians don’t seem to want to do that.

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