Team Chase
CoRE integral to Alberta’s de-addiction agenda
While substance abuse has been a relentless menace for decades, people the world over have also been grappling with a mental health crisis, more so since the first quarter of 2020.
While the process of recovering from an addiction and recovering from a mental illness are two-pronged, it is imperative to point out that there is a fundamental difference between them.
For an individual experiencing an addiction:
- The first step is sustained action towards healing, be it physical, social or spiritual
- The second is the consistent pursuit of a substance-free life
For a person with a mental health condition:
- The first objective is to achieve and maintain remission from said illness
- The second is to live a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life, even when the symptoms are present
Since 2019, Alberta, the Canadian province, has added 10,000 new publicly-funded addiction treatment spaces, eliminating daily user fees.
Care and compassion are at the core of the Alberta Recovery Model, which provides access to a full continuum of services and supports, from prevention and intervention to treatment and recovery.
It has been garnering international attention for its comprehensive, evidence-based approach to addressing the two areas of concern.
The Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE) was established in July 2024 to support the government of Alberta with data analysis, program evaluation and expert advice on global best practices, which, for Albertans desirous of a systematic recovery, will yield the best results.
That set-up is integral to its continued development, for which the government of Alberta is investing $1.55 billion in 2024-25.
On the cards is the establishment of 11 recovery communities across the province. When these are operational, they will add about 700 new treatment beds to support over 2,000 natives of the province in their pursuit of recovery.
With those objectives in mind,
, the Canadian province’s minister of mental health and addiction, travelled to the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and Connecticut between September 16 and 21, 2024.
The touring party comprised a member of the staff, a departmental representative and CoRE leadership.
Williams said these visits were opportunities to share the innovative work Alberta has been doing to build on existing partnerships and create new avenues for collaboration between the province and elected officials, community leaders, legislators, practitioners and leaders of recovery-oriented care south of the border.
The minister also engaged with organizations on approaches for public communication and coordination of recovery initiatives, including effective community engagement and strategies to build strong support networks for people in recovery.
Several American jurisdictions are facing a similar addiction or drug abuse crisis, and compassionate intervention legislation is due in 2025.
Hence, Williams stated that the Albertan delegation learnt about their systems, which include using treatment orders for those who are a danger to themselves or others, other policies that were comparable to the province’s proposal of compassionate intervention, and best practices adopted in the United States, which they intend to leverage because they could inform approaches that would help drug users.
What is the Alberta Recovery Model?
The Alberta health system has been transformed into the Alberta Recovery Model, a boon for people battling addictions and mental health conditions because it focuses on long-term recovery.
Why is a recovery-oriented system of care needed?
For a system of care to be recovery-oriented, the network has to be community-based and coordinated. It should render services tailor-made for each individual at risk of addiction and mental health challenges. That, in a nutshell, describes the Alberta Recovery Model.
Recommended by the Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Council
The Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Council was appointed in November 2019 to provide recommendations to improve access to recovery-oriented care and better support Albertans on their path to recovery.
While some members of the Council included Albertans with personal experience dealing with addictions, others had experience in emergency and crisis services, mental health and addiction recovery services, primary and home care settings, Indigenous health, justice, law enforcement, and civil society.
The Council had three recommendations:
- Establishing a shared vision
- Improving foundational supports
- Strengthening recovery-oriented care systems
They developed them using their vast expertise, engagement with stakeholders, and research carried out on behalf of the Council.
They published these in their final report, ‘Toward an Alberta Model of Wellness’, and informed the Alberta Recovery Model about them.
Not only did the latter accept all of them, but it is also taking steps to implement them because they would help achieve the Alberta Recovery Model’s vision of building a system where every native of the province who faces addiction and mental health challenges has an opportunity to pursue recovery and live a healthy, productive life through integrated, easily accessible systems of care.
Services and Supports
If you or someone you know is experiencing challenges with addiction or mental health recovery, the following services and supports may be helpful:
- 211 Alberta (a number you can call, text or chat with)
- Help in trying times (24X7 helplines)
- Opioid response: Options for care include addiction treatment services, opioid agonist therapy clinics, narcotic transition services, overdose prevention, Digital Overdose Response System (DORS), harm reduction and supervised consumption services
- Recovery Alberta: Mental health and addiction services
A process of transformative change
A person experiencing addiction or a mental health condition deserves two things in his pursuit of recovery:
- Support
- Fewer barriers
Previously, Alberta’s approach to the two chronic issues focused on acute interventions designed to manage their adverse effects on a person’s health. While they are essential and have saved lives, they have come at the cost of supporting the wellness and recovery of individuals, families and communities in the long run.
The province’s government has initiated the process of transforming to recovery-oriented care, which will be a game-changer for Albertans seeking recovery from addiction and mental health conditions.
Recovery Capital
Recovery capital collectively refers to the resources a person can draw on to begin and maintain their pursuit of recovery.
These may be internal or external and include the following:
- Educational development
- Vocational skills
- Employment
- Resolution of legal issues
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Leisure activities that involve one’s family and social circle
- Peer-based support
- Community integration
- Cultural support
- Discovering and rediscovering meaning or purpose in life
- Recommendations and supporting actions
Developing recovery capital is crucial, and the Alberta Recovery Model is committed to doing that.
The next steps
The Alberta Recovery Model has tied up with partners across multiple sectors. In the future, it will work with them to improve awareness and understanding of recovery-oriented care systems and take action to support the well-being of Albertans who are facing addiction and mental health challenges.
Albertans struggling with opioid addiction may contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) by calling 1-844-383-7688 for same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. It is open between 6 am and midnight, seven days a week, and there is no waitlist.
