I'd be happy to do that.
This is how it works today in Alberta. If, for example, a person is at home and they are concerned about their opioid use or maybe they have run out of their supply of drugs and they're in withdrawal, they can just call a toll-free number—1-844-383-7688—directly and they will immediately be connected with an allied health team member who will start to explore their situation. In Alberta we have the benefit of single medical health records, so we're able to see all of that person's health records from their hospital visits, previous overdoses and things like that.
Once that person completes their assessment with our allied health team, almost immediately—or usually in no more than 15 minutes, depending on how many people are phoning at one given time—they're connected with an addictions specialist who can then walk through what their treatment options are. That specialist will prescribe a pathway forward for them to start evidence-based treatment medications.
The prescription is sent to the pharmacy closest to where they live or work, according to their preference, and that person can start treatment that very day.
Our team, of course, will follow up with that person later that day or the next morning to see how they're doing, and we will adjust the care from there.