Calgary will soon join a number of cities around the country to open a special drug court, officials say.

When it opens later this spring, criminals addicted to drugs who meet the criteria will enter a lengthy treatment regime instead of languishing behind bars.

Lawyer Mark Tyndale, chair of a committee that has been working for more than five years to establish an alternative approach to deal with drug-addicted offenders, said it's not about issuing "get out of jail cards."

Instead, it's an intensive rehabilitation program that could run as long as 18 months and require weekly appearances before a judge.

The program will focus on individuals addicted to hard drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin, Tyndale said.

"Their treatment will run five or eight hours every single day — involved with intensive group and individual therapy — and then they'll be attending groups such as AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] or NA [Narcotics Anonymous] in the evening as well," he said.

Joanne MacCartney, acting director of a drug court program in Edmonton that has been operating for nearly 18 months, said conditions are rigorous and include regular drug testing.

"Anywhere you live has to be approved by the team that runs the court. If you want a weekend pass to go somewhere outside of the city, you have to have permission for that," she said. "It's hard labour."

Drug courts are currently operating in Winnipeg, Regina and Ottawa.

The Calgary drug court is scheduled to open on May 10.