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By rdnewsNOW staff

Resources, Treatment, Help Lines

AHS highlights supports available on Overdose Awareness Day

Aug 31, 2023 | 1:44 PM

On Overdose Awareness Day today (Aug. 31, 2023), Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it acknowledges the unsung heroes including families, friends and health care workers impacted by the lives lost due to overdose.

The health agency says one life lost is too many and the impacts are far reaching.

AHS says support and treatment is available to individuals struggling with substance use, including help for family and friends left behind.

Resources and Treatment

• AHS Addiction and Mental Health community clinics: Services are available to serve children, families and individuals. If you need to speak to someone, call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642 or the Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322. Trained staff are available to offer support at those numbers 24/7.
• Opioid agonist treatment clinics in Alberta: Provides treatment to people dependent on opioids and helps them access services they need to live healthy lives. Individuals can self-refer, or referrals can come from any healthcare professional or a community agency. Services are voluntary and confidential. For more information on how to access care, individuals can walk in or call any AHS opioid dependency program clinic.
• Virtual Opioid Dependency Program: Available anywhere in Alberta, VODP provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait list. To access, call 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
• The Digital Overdose Response System (DORS): A free, discreet mobile app that can help prevent overdose deaths among people using opioids and other substances while alone.
• Naloxone kits: Naloxone is a drug that temporarily reverses effects of an opioid poisoning.

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Helplines

· 211 Alberta – Information on community and social services.

· Addiction Helpline – 1-866-332-2322 for recovery-oriented care support.

· Health Link 811 – 24/7 health advice and information.

Friends and Family

• People in need of support are encouraged to reach out to someone they trust. Talk to a family member, friend, or someone you can be honest with to talk through your concerns.
• If you notice people in your life who may be struggling, reach out to them. Offering support can include mentioning what you have noticed, listening to their concerns, and connecting them with some of the resources noted above. Starting a conversation does not require you to be a counsellor or an expert; just a caring person offering support and hope.

Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams issued the following statement on International Overdose Awareness Day:

“International Overdose Awareness Day is a tragic reminder of every life lost to the deadly disease of addiction. Our government is committed to building a comprehensive system of care that provides compassionate treatment and a path to recovery for every Albertan suffering from addiction. Our goal is to save lives while supporting long-term recovery.

“While the number of overdose deaths from addiction has recently decreased in Alberta, we must do more to help those battling addiction – and the families and communities torn apart by this crisis.

“Most overdose deaths from addiction in Alberta take place at home, often when someone is using alone. The Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) is a life-saving app that helps connect people to emergency assistance if they become unresponsive while using opioids or other drugs.

“Albertans who are ready to pursue recovery can get the help they need, no matter where they live in the province. We have added more than 10,000 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces and eliminated user fees for live-in addiction treatment – because a person’s finances should never be a barrier to accessing care. Same-day treatment is also available through the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program, which connects Albertans with addiction medicine physicians and life-saving medications using telehealth technology.

“On International Overdose Awareness Day, I want to remind Albertans struggling with addiction that you are not alone. We want to help. Call or text 211 Alberta for information about programs, services and supports in your community or visit them online.

“We all have people in our lives affected by problematic substance use,” says Janet Eremenko, Alberta NDP Critic for Mental Health and Addictions. “We all know that it can take time for them to be ready to accept help, and it often takes multiple attempts to take a different path.”

Officials with Friends of Medicare say Alberta continues to set records for drug poisoning deaths with 1,630 lives lost in 2022, and the province on track to set records again this year.