Alberta’s government is introducing amendments to mental health and addiction licensing regulations to improve care and help Albertans access the right support for their recovery needs.
The proposed changes to the Mental Health Services Protection Act aim to make the legislation more flexible and responsive, ensuring better oversight of mental health and addiction services. If passed, the amendments would take effect in fall 2025.
“We are committed to developing a recovery-oriented system of care that grows and evolves to meet the needs of every Albertan. These proposed amendments reflect our dedication to maintaining a system that is both effective and adaptable,” said Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction.
Currently, all bed-based addiction treatment services are subject to the same licensing requirements, regardless of the type or intensity of care. The proposed amendments would introduce three distinct categories of bed-based addiction treatment services:
Withdrawal management services: Medically supervised services to help individuals manage withdrawal from substances.
Intensive treatment services: Structured residential care for individuals with addiction.
Non-intensive recovery services: Recovery-focused environments offering less-intensive treatment than intensive services.
Additionally, the amendments would implement title protection, ensuring that only licensed providers could use these service descriptions. This measure aims to help Albertans find the right level of care and ensure consistent, high-quality treatment.
The legislation would grant the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction authority to exempt specific people or service providers from the act’s framework on a case-by-case basis. Exemptions would only be considered in unique situations, such as medical reasons, scientific research, or clear public benefit, with strict guidelines ensuring responsible application.
Additional administrative amendments would address regulatory inconsistencies and align language with the Alberta Recovery Model. For instance, references to “residential addiction treatment services” would be updated to “bed-based treatment services” for clarity and consistency.
Alberta’s government is making record spending commitments to enhance recovery-oriented supports, including adding more than 10,000 publicly funded addiction treatment spaces, eliminating daily user fees for bed-based treatment services, and expanding access to the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program, which provides same-day access to life-saving treatment medication.
Albertans seeking support can call 211 Alberta for resources in their area. Those struggling with opioid addiction can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program at 1-844-383-7688, available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight, with no waitlist for services.