Alberta’s government is teaming up with police to support the innovative practice of immediate access to opioid addiction treatment by offering it to individuals who've been arrested..On Tuesday, the government teamed with Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP). From now on, anyone arrested in Red Deer will have the option of immediately consulting with an addiction physician if they need it..“Alberta is once again leading the nation with this innovative program to get more people connected with life-saving addiction treatment," Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Mike Ellis said.."People who commit a crime must be held accountable for their actions, but we can also treat addiction as a health-care issue while keeping our communities safe. Every Albertan deserves the opportunity to pursue recovery no matter who they are or where they interact with the system.”.According to the province, the program’s expansion to Red Deer comes after seeing significant uptake among clients in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and rural RCMP locations. Between January and June, those centres saw more than 400 people referred to VODP for an addiction medicine consultation. Most of these individuals were able to start evidence-based treatment medications prior to their release from custody..“Police officers have an important part to play in helping address the addiction crisis in our communities, one that goes beyond enforcement," Superintendent of the Alberta RCMP Mike McCauley said.."We’re proud to support a program that will help more people with opioid addiction access life-saving treatment that will genuinely improve their lives.”.In December 2021, Alberta became the first jurisdiction in Canada to integrate access to addiction treatment with municipal jails in Edmonton, Calgary, some rural RCMP detachments, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, on the Blood Tribe, and now in Red Deer..Through the VODP, Albertans experiencing opioid addiction can access medication-assisted treatment and counselling to help manage withdrawal symptoms. This includes access to Sublocade, a medication that lasts in a person’s system for 30 days, which has the potential to reduce the rate of opioid-related fatalities after discharge from police custody..“Offering the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program in municipal jails is compassionate and will help those who are ready to start life changing and live saving treatment," said medical director for the VODP, Dr. Nathaniel Day .."People who want treatment should find recovery options wherever they turn. This program has a proven track record for helping address addiction and helps people live the full, healthy lives that they and their families want.”.In addition, DORS, a mobile app designed to prevent fatal overdoses among Albertans using opioids and other substances often while alone, is now available for download and use by anyone in central Alberta..The DORS app can be downloaded to a smartphone free of charge from any app store or via DORSApp.ca. When using the app, Albertans will receive a call from the STARS emergency centre if they become unresponsive to a timer. If an overdose is suspected, STARS will immediately dispatch emergency medical services to the person’s location..According to the government, DORS is saving lives in Alberta. To date, it has been downloaded more than 1,000 times and has more than 550 registered users, with many successful emergency medical services dispatches. DORS is free and can be downloaded to any smartphone from the Google Play or Apple app stores..The VODP is free and can be accessed by calling 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. VODP provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait-list..For additional support, information and referral to services, call Alberta 211 or the Addiction Helpline (1-866-332-2322) or visit recoveryaccessalberta.ca.
