By The Canadian Press

Alberta’s opioid treatment program to end in 2021

Mar 9, 2020 | 2:24 PM

CALGARY – An Alberta pilot program meant to help some of the toughest-to-treat opioid users will end in a year.

The Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment grant, announced under the former NDP government, was initially supposed to end this month.

The United Conservative government extended funding for the program until March 31st, 2021 to allow patients to transition to other forms of treatment.

A spokeswoman for associate health minister Jason Luan says it was always meant to be a pilot and the previous government had no plan beyond the two-year mark.

Addictions specialist Monty Ghosh says the project was meant for patients who were often on the streets and had no regular health care.

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The program involves injecting hydromorphone three times daily.

He says he saw improved overall health, housing and employment among his clients thanks to the daily visits with their care team.

Ghosh says the current program is expensive and he’s hoping any scaled-down alternatives will still help the most vulnerable patients.