The province of Alberta recently launched its new health agency, Recovery Alberta, which will focus on delivering mental health and addictions services as part of the province’s health care restructuring. Alberta Health Services will be reorganized into four different sectors that will operate within more defined parameters. More than 10,000 staff working in AHS addiction and mental health, and correctional health services will be moving to Recovery Alberta. The province aims to prioritize mental health and addiction services in order to improve patient care and wellness of Albertans.
Despite the province’s efforts to improve mental health and addiction services, harm reduction group Moms Stop The Harm has questioned the transition of these services to Recovery Alberta. Co-founder Petra Schulz believes that the province did not consult all groups overseeing addictions treatments and substance harm reduction. Schulz argues that the province does not offer a variety of options to minimize substance abuse risks and that the focus on abstinence-based addiction treatment may not be effective for all individuals. The lack of consultation with those most affected by substance abuse, as well as the lack of evidence-based approaches, has raised concerns among advocates like Schulz.
On International Overdose Awareness Day, hundreds gathered at Victoria Park to remember loved ones who died as a result of substance overdoses. Angela Welz, who lost her teenage daughter Zoe to fentanyl poisoning in 2016, shared her story at the event. Welz believes that her daughter should have had access to drug treatment and that the system failed her. She also emphasized the stigma surrounding drug users and the need for a more compassionate and effective response to curbing toxic drug deaths and overdoses. Despite the launch of Recovery Alberta, Welz continues to provide support to grieving loved ones on the ground level.
The province has been tracking toxic drug deaths since 2016 and has seen a significant increase in such deaths in recent years. In 2023, Alberta recorded a record-breaking 2,076 toxic drug deaths by all substances. In the first five months of this year, Alberta has already recorded 602 toxic drug deaths, indicating a concerning trend. With the ongoing opioid crisis and increasing numbers of toxic drug deaths, there is a critical need for effective strategies and support services to address substance abuse issues. The launch of Recovery Alberta is a step towards improving mental health and addiction services, but advocates and families like Angela Welz stress the importance of evidence-based approaches and meaningful consultation with those affected by substance abuse.
