Referral Information

For a complete list of treatment clinics for opioid dependence:

• Visit Alberta Referral Directory and use the following search term: Addiction & Mental Health - Opioid Dependency Program.

Practice Supports

Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction

• Community Protection and Opioid Stewardship Standards

Alberta Health Services

• Opioids & Youth
• Opioid Use Disorder – Telephone Consultation (for prescribers and prescribers seeking information on Narcotic Transition Services)
• Hospital-Based Exemptions
  • FAQ - Clinical Scenarios
  • FAQ - Mental Health Services Protection Regulation (MHSPR)
  • Mental Health Services Protection Regulation Narcotic Transition Services (NTS) Flowchart
  • Narcotic Transition Services & Hospital Care
• Comorbid OUD & CNCP Practice Guidance
• Hydromorphone Titration Schedules

Alberta College of Family Physicians

The Alberta College of Family Physicians has established the following practice tools and resources for family physicians.

• Opioid Response in Primary Care

College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)

The CPSA provides the following practice tools and resources.

• Opioid Agonist Treatment Program

Regulatory Colleges

Regulatory colleges within Alberta provide the following guidance for safe prescribing.

• Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Guidelines for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians – Alberta College of Pharmacy, 2021
• Prescribing Standards for Nurse Practitioners – College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, 2021
• Safe Prescribing for Opioid Use Disorder – CPSA, 2019

Learning & Education

Training Programs

The following online CME-accredited training courses are available. Check with your regulatory college for specific training requirements or recommendations.

• Alberta ODT Virtual Training Program
• British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Support Program
• SUBLOCADE Certification Program
  • The training portal login is available through the link above.
• SUBOXONE® Training Program

Supplementary Learning

The following online CME-accredited supplementary learning resources are available from Alberta Health Services.

• Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Playlist
• Provincial Addiction Curricula & Experiential Skill (PACES) Learning Pathway

ODT Medication Infographics

• Buprenorphine Extended Release
• Buprenorphine / Naloxone
• Opioid Dependency Treatment Intensity Continuum
• Slow-release Oral Morphine
• Methadone
• Hydromorphone
• Managing Benzodiazepine Contamination Within the Context of Opioid Dependency Treatment
• De-prescribing Opioid Dependency Treatment

ODP Client Medication Brochures

• Buprenorphine Extended Release
• Buprenorphine / Naloxone
• Hydromorphone
• Methadone
• Slow-Release Oral Morphine

Evidence Informed Guidelines & Supplements

The following Canadian guidelines and supplements are available for clinical management of opioid use disorder.

• Best Practices across the Continuum of Care for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder – Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction, 2019
• Canadian Guidelines on Opioid Use Disorder Among Older Adults – Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health, 2019
• National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder – Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse, 2018
• Opioid Agonist Therapy: A Synthesis of Canadian Guidelines for Treating Opioid Use Disorder – CAMH, 2021
• Opioid Use Disorder: Practice Update – BCCSU, 2022
• Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder for Youth – BCCSU, 2018
• Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy – BCCSU, 2018

Client Resources

For resources and service information to help support clients, visit the Opioid Dependency Program for adults and youth.