Psychedelic drug treatment service provider licensing

Overview

Service providers who offer or provide treatment for a psychiatric disorder using one or more psychedelic drugs must meet quality and safety requirements under the Mental Health Services Protection Regulation.

Many of these service providers must also be licensed under the Mental Health Services Protection Act and Regulation and comply with mandatory quality and safety standards set out in the Psychedelic Drug Treatment Services Standards currently under development.

This regulatory framework provides government oversight and key protections for patients receiving psychedelic drug treatment services in Alberta.

The framework:

• requires licensing, except in the following cases:
  • approved clinical research trials
  • ketamine used outside of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
• outlines the conditions for prescribing, administering, dispensing or selling a designated psychedelic drug, and conditions for monitoring and caring for people while they are in an altered state of consciousness
• ensures clinical oversight of licensed psychedelic drug treatment services is provided by a psychiatrist
• sets out the qualifications for persons conducting psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
• ensures service providers meet quality standards such as policies and procedures for:
  • safety and security
  • employee requirements, qualifications and training
  • record creation, maintenance and retention
  • facilities or other locations where services are offered or provided
• details requirements related to approved clinical research
• gives government authority to address complaints and concerns and to amend, suspend or cancel a service provider's licence.

Complaints or concerns

As of January 16, 2023, all licensed psychedelic drug treatment service providers in the province will be required to have a complaint process.

If you have concerns about the services you or someone else is receiving from a psychedelic drug treatment service provider, contact the service provider first.

If you have a concern about possible abuse, contact the Provincial Abuse Line at 1-855-4HELPAB (443-5722).

Apply for a licence

If you plan to start offering or providing psychedelic drug treatment services, contact us to begin the licensing process.

If you disagree with a decision made by Compliance and Monitoring regarding a psychedelic drug treatment services provider licence, you may be able to appeal it. Appeals are managed by the Appeals Secretariat, a neutral government office that operates separately from Compliance and Monitoring.

Find out how to appeal

Incident reporting

As of January 16, 2023, licensed psychedelic drug treatment service providers will be required to report to the Ministry of Health any serious injury or death that occurs in relation to the provision of services. This includes any situation that may be injurious to the safety or health of patients or that may jeopardize the service provider’s ability to provide services.

Contact

Connect with Compliance and Monitoring:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-8740 for questions about provider licensing
Phone: 780-422-4703 to speak with a complaints officer about concerns regarding services
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 780-990-0152 (Secure)

Address:
Alberta Health
Attn: Addiction and Mental Health Compliance and Monitoring
13th floor, Telus House
10020 100 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2N3