Central Albertans struggling with opioid dependency are receiving better, faster treatment according to Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne who spent time at Red Deer's Safe Harbour Society this morning.

Safe Harbour opened new medical supports for 20 detox beds in Red Deer in November, and since then 127 people have received treatment for substance use and wrap-around services including counselling, housing and social supports.

The province provided a $1.6-million grant to add the new medical treatment supports to its detox beds, providing clients with 24-7 access to a team of doctors and nurses.

Payne says providing medication assisted treatment for addicts is key for helping people overcome their addictions, especially for opioids, and our government is committed to helping agencies like Safe Harbour in that fight.

“This has been an ongoing commitment from our Government. We originally announced this plan with the Valuing Mental Health report, and ultimately we work in really close partnership with agencies like Safe Harbour to match up the programing that they are doing, along with the supports we are offering through government.”

She says things like naloxone kits are being deployed to help with overdoses, but places like Safe Harbour address the larger issues.

“It’s also so important to have treatment supports like the ones offered here at Safe Harbour so when individuals are ready for treatment, they can begin to work on their medical parts of their substance abuse problems, but also work on some of the psycho-social and mental health conditions that often accompany it.”

Seven local physicians provide medication-assisted treatment such as methadone or Suboxone for opioid-use disorder and work closely with on-site case managers to transfer clients to ongoing community care when they’re ready.

Once discharged, patients can receive ongoing treatment through the central Alberta rural tele-health opioid dependency program, opened by the province last spring, that program can treat up to 300 patients annually from Red Deer and surrounding communities.r