Alberta’s government is expanding treatment and recovery options to help Albertans pursue recovery at no cost. This includes establishing 11 new recovery communities that will allow for long-term addiction treatment throughout the province.
Alberta’s government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tsuut’ina First Nation for the development of a new recovery community. With an investment of up to $30 million in capital, the new 75-bed facility will provide holistic addiction treatment services for up to 300 people in the Calgary area every year.
“Every individual suffering from the illness of addiction can have the hope that recovery is possible. We are committed to walking together with Indigenous partners to increase land-based addiction treatment and healing across the province. This partnership with Tsuut’ina Nation is an important step in stopping the cycle of addiction and building a system of care to meet the needs of the community.”
“Recovery communities offer hope that recovery from addiction is possible – and provide a path to achieving it. We’re proud to partner with Tsuut’ina Nation on a recovery community that will welcome Indigenous people and southern Albertans and give them the support they need to change their lives.”
Working closely with First Nations is vital to removing barriers to comprehensive, culturally appropriate services in Indigenous communities and an important part of strengthening recovery-oriented care across the province.
“Reconciliation is not possible without collaboration. The solutions to these difficult issues will only come through partnerships with Indigenous people. These services must be culturally informed, and that can only happen with the wisdom and guidance of Indigenous communities. That’s why we are so grateful to the Tsuut’ina Nation for working with us on this important project.”
“Tsuut’ina fully supports an active approach to drug rehabilitation for our affected Nation members and the region. The scourge of drugs in Alberta has tragically affected every community. We will not give up on our citizens suffering from substance abuse issues – nor should any community. Let’s do everything in our power to turn their lives around.”
“I am grateful that Alberta's government will be supporting Tsuut'ina Nation with a recovery community. I feel confident that this is an important step towards truth and reconciliation, as we know addiction often stems from the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools. I am grateful to know that this new facility will allow us to heal on our lands with the support of our culture.”
The construction of a recovery community on Tsuut’ina Nation stems from the work of the Calgary Public Safety and Community Response Task Force. The Calgary and Edmonton public safety and community response task forces are responsible for implementing $187 million in provincial funding to further build out a recovery-oriented system of addiction and mental health care. The initiatives being implemented are part of a fair, firm and compassionate approach to keeping communities safe while treating addiction and mental health as health care issues.
Quick facts
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Recovery communities are a form of long-term treatment for addiction used in more than 65 countries around the world.
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Treatment at recovery communities will be free for all Albertans.
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Construction of the Tsuut’ina recovery community is expected to begin in 2024.
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Alberta’s government is partnering with First Nations to build recovery communities on Tsuut’ina Nation, Enoch Cree Nation and Blood Tribe lands.
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A total of 11 recovery communities are planned or underway in Alberta, including those in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Gunn, Blood Tribe, Enoch, Tsuut’ina, Calgary and Grande Prairie, with more to be announced.
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Albertans struggling with opioid addiction can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) by calling 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. VODP provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait list.