'Recovery is possible': Alberta government doubles number of addiction treatment beds
In 2019, the UCP government said it would establish 4,000 treatment spaces for Albertans suffering from addictions.
Now, two years later, Premier Jason Kenney says the government is doing even more.
He made the announcement at the Fresh Start Recovery Centre in Calgary, alongside Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Mike Ellis.
"We care," Kenney said. "And recovery from addiction is possible."
All of the addiction treatment available through the province is free for Albertans to access.
Support provided at residential recovery facilities includes improving physical and mental health, fostering connections between family and community, building employment skills, ensuring housing stability and more.
New software, called My Recovery Plan, is also being provided to operators of treatment centres. Officials say this tool will help "fix the broken system."
"We have heard for years that the addiction care system is broken. When we came into office, Albertans were having to decide between selling their car and remortgaging their home to access life-saving treatment and recovery services. This was completely unacceptable," said Mike Ellis, Alberta's associate minister of mental health and addictions in a statement.
CALLS FOR HARM REDUCTION
But past policy was still somewhat of a focus at Saturday's announcement.
Many health experts and drug advocates call the UCP approach to a deadly stretch of overdoses "one-sided."
Many would like to see more of an emphasis put on harm reduction.
Advocate Euan Thomson wants supervised consumption sites and safe opioid treatment programs to still be encouraged to those struggling with addiction.
"If the wine and beer supply was poisoned right now and people were dying from drinking wine and beer, we could probably address the supply," he said to CTV News, "rather than try and build a bunch of recovery beds for daily beer drinkers to get off their habit.
"We need to address the poison drug supply."
The premier says he agrees harm reduction steps are still needed for some, but Albertans should instead be focused on solutions.
"The staff (at supervised consumption sites) shouldn't just be there to help them shoot up," he said. "The staff should be there to help them provide a way out of the addiction."
"Unfortunately, for a lot of people," Thomson said, "that just isn't realistic or even desirable."
Thomson and many other harm reduction advocates also worry eventual relapses won't be addressed properly in a province completely focused on recovery.
"We should look at it in terms of keeping people alive, first and foremost," he said.
Kenney believes it's time for a new strategy.
"One definition of insanity is to keep repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome," the Premier said. "We don't think facilitating deadly addictions is the safe or responsible approach."
APP DATA
The province also pushed on Saturday for more Albertans to download its Digital Overdose Response System -- or DORS.
It's a free app that can connect those who use illicit drugs at home with emergency services if they're needed.
230 users have registered on DORS since it's August launch.
The province wouldn't say how many times it's successfully connected a resident with an emergency response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.