“This is our fifth year celebrating the thousands of people across our province who are living in recovery. Through their own example, they are offering hope to those struggling today that recovery is possible.
“The pursuit of recovery is a challenging path that takes courage and dedication, and our government is working to build a compassionate system of care that supports Albertans every step of the way.
“We are transforming addiction and mental health care in our province, and the strides we have made are significant. While there is still work to be done, our progress brings hope for the future.
“Increasing addiction treatment capacity and focusing on recovery has been an important part of building a strong Alberta Model. More than 10,000 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces have been added across the province, and we have eliminated the user fees that prevented so many from accessing live-in addiction treatment. We’ve also expanded the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program to help Albertans across the province access same-day treatment and life-saving medications – recovery should never be put on hold.
“To help Albertans get the help they need, we are increasing access to long-term addiction treatment by establishing 11 recovery communities across Alberta, including four in direct partnership with First Nations. Additionally, we are building five 75-bed mental wellness centres for short and long-term treatment and four new youth mental wellness centres for youth with complex mental health needs.
“There is no finish line when it comes to recovery – our goal is to help as many Albertans as possible improve their health and build full and meaningful lives.
“This Recovery Month, I encourage you to seek out stories of people living in recovery. If you have a recovery story of your own, consider sharing it – you never know who you might help just by sharing your challenges and triumphs.
“Most importantly, if you’re struggling and need support, know that help is available. 211 Alberta is available via phone, text, and online to connect you with nearby services and supports.”