Lethbridge Police Service -- LNN

By Connor Gunn

Lethbridge, Blood Tribe Police to offer immediate access to addiction treatment

Mar 18, 2022 | 5:22 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) and Blood Tribe Police can now offer instant access to addiction treatment upon an individual’s arrest.

In an innovative approach of offering immediate access to addiction treatment upon an individual’s arrest, the Alberta government announced the changes locally.

Through the new Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP), individuals arrested in Lethbridge and on the Blood Tribe will have the option of immediately consulting with an addiction medicine physician.

Funding will go towards the LPS to hire two paramedics to further support this initiative.

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen hopes people can be assisted through local addiction treatment.

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“We’re thrilled to see this collaborative approach come to our city to support the vulnerable members of our community who struggle with opioid addiction. This is a tangible way to help transition folks who want help onto the recovery path and hopefully onto a better future.”

The province notes that the VODP can be accessed by anyone anywhere in the province to get same-day treatment by calling 1-844-383-7688. The program is not offered in most parts of the country but is now available in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and on the Blood Tribe.

A Digital Overdose Response System (DORS), which is also available designed to prevent fatal overdoses among Albertans using opioids and other substances, often while alone, is now available for download and use by anyone in southern Alberta.

“When using the [DORS] app, Albertans will receive a call from the STARS emergency centre if they become unresponsive to a timer. If an overdose is suspected, STARS will immediately dispatch emergency medical services to the person’s location,” the provincial release explains.

More information on the multiple initiatives can be found at Digital Overdose Response System and Virtual Opioid Dependency Program.