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Alberta police now able to offer immediate access to addiction treatment after making arrests

EDMONTON, AB – Albertans taken into police custody for any offence, who are suffering from opioid addiction, will now be able to get the treatment they need right in municipal jails.

This first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada is starting in Calgary and Edmonton as well as some rural RCMP detachments.

The Alberta government is spending $1.4 million to create a low-barrier harm reduction division within the AHS virtual opioid dependency program (VODP) which will offer rapid assessments and medication for those in police custody.

The VODP will also follow-up with those people upon their release to ensure they have on-going support.

All Albertans now have access to the newly-funded drug Sublocade, which lasts in a person’s system for 30 days providing stabilization, reduced craving and significantly enhanced protection against overdose. The provincial government says this has the potential to greatly reduce the rate of opioid-related fatalities after discharge from municipal jails.

Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki agrees that “addiction needs to be treated as a healthcare issue”while police continue to hold people accountable for their actions.

Sam Borsato
Sam Borsato
I started my radio career in 2015, shortly after graduating from Lethbridge College. I have a very strong passion for local news. Proudly born in 1994, I grew up most of my life in Sylvan Lake, AB and I've lived in the Lethbridge since 2012. I'm a below average golfer on a good day, I take as many hiking trips to Waterton as possible in the summer and I love my two cats, Outlaw and Jynx, and my dog, Maverick, more than most people I know. I look forward to providing accurate, timely news coverage in southern Alberta for plenty of years to come!
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