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By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

NOVEMBER 24-30

National Addiction Awareness Week sparks comments from and calls to provincial government

Nov 26, 2024 | 4:04 PM

November 24-30 marks National Addiction Awareness Week (NAAW), an opportunity to learn more about prevention and harm reduction, talk about treatment and recovery, and discuss solutions for change, says the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams shared a statement on NAAW, outlining how the province intends to move forward to address addiction.

“The Alberta Recovery Model is our policy that focuses on bringing people out of addiction to live healthy lives, reunited with their family, community and culture. We have seen positive trends throughout 2024, with opioid-related fatalities so far this year 37 per cent lower than in 2023. We are cautiously optimistic and pleased to see this decrease in the number of people losing their lives to addiction,” he said.

Last year in Red Deer, the community lost 55 individuals to opioid poisoning, according to Alberta Substance Use Surveillance Data. This year, there were 23 deaths by August, although fourth quarter data is not yet available. There were 32 deaths by the same point in 2023.

Red Deer hosts an Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) that opened in 2018 and has medical staff on site to help prevent and aid in overdose scenarios. The OPS has had unique visitor numbers as low as 142 (during its first operational quarter) and as high as 280 per quarter.

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The AHS-run program will be ceasing operations no later than March 31, 2025; it is being replaced with recovery oriented support services.

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Related: City council makes moves to improve addiction recovery and shelter space in Red Deer

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Hunter Baril, press secretary to the Office of the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, commented on this change.

“Alberta’s government is implementing a comprehensive plan that focuses on health, wellness, and recovery for Red Deer. Their city council voted earlier this year to request our government end funding of the drug consumption site and instead invest in services that better align with a recovery-oriented system of care.” He continued, “We have also opened a 75-bed recovery community, a therapeutic living unit in the correctional centre, and funded the Red Deer Dream Centre for more access to addiction treatment services within the community. This broad range of services reflects our absolute commitment to a recovery-oriented system of care.”

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Related

• Red Deer Dream Centre secures provincial operating dollars
• Province expanding recovery support in Red Deer

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Minister Williams added in his statement that provincially, Alberta has opened three recovery communities with eight more on the way.

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) and Friends of Medicare also issued statements on NAAW, with both calling on the provincial government to better address a need for publicly delivered addiction care.

“This government will talk endlessly about its focus on recovery, but the results are lacking,” said Mike Parker, president of HSAA. “Too many Albertans die before accessing the care they are seeking every year. With only three recovery communities operational and their highly questionable data on overdose deaths barely showing progress, any celebration of achievement is not just premature but entirely inappropriate.”

Parker also criticized the nature of the services delivered, calling them a “one size fits all treatment approach” that should instead be delivered publicly and based on each patients unique needs.

Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare, expressed concern that the restructuring of AHS is actually a push towards privatizing Alberta’s health care.

“We should be providing addictions care to Albertans through the public health care system. Instead, at every turn, our government has been signing contract after contract with for-profit providers,” said Gallaway. “We’ve seen them dole out multi-million dollar contracts using our public health care dollars to fund private recovery centres, private training and curriculum development, private addictions treatment in our correctional institutions, the private My Recovery Plan app, and more.”

Press secretary Baril responded on behalf of the ministry.

“Albertans understand that it is not only trained medical professionals who are able to help someone in their recovery. While there is absolutely a vital role for doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists, and so many more health-care professionals, there are also those with lived experience who can be a support for people overcoming their own addiction. We value that experience, and all frontline workers, and are creating a system for both to offer their support,” Baril said.

Recovery Alberta, the recently divided AHS entity dedicated to addiction and mental health services, shared a NAAW statement reminding Albertans of the resources available to them.

For 24/7 support:

• Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
• The Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322
• 211: Call or text INFO to 211, or visit the website.

The Access Addiction and Mental Health line is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-888-594-0211.

An Indigenous Support line that endeavours to provide culturally appropriate care is available at 1-844-944-4744 from Monday to Friday from noon to 8 p.m.

The organization also points to its online mental health resources for residents needing to learn coping skills, reduce stress or build healthy connections.