Collaborative Mentorship Network for Chronic Pain and Addiction

Please find attached a provincial protocol for rapid home induction for opiate agonist therapy (OAT) for opioid use disorder.

In the context of COVID-19, many people will be required to isolate or self-isolate due to infection or contact with infected persons. Many will be homeless and addicted to drugs such as opiates. To support Albertans with opioid use disorder and the current public health guidance of physical distancing and self-isolation, AHS Addiction and Mental Health is providing this provincial protocol for rapid ‘home’ induction for OAT targeting those with opioid use disorder, homeless or not. This protocol minimizes the contact between people who are either infectious or potentially infected and others including care personnel. This protocol has been developed and used by Alberta ODP prescribers and currently utilized in the Calgary Opioid Dependency Program and Virtual Opioid Dependency Program.

Treatment with medications such as buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) and methadone complement recovery oriented care including abstinence-based treatment models for those people with opioid-use disorder. A number of Alberta’s detoxification and residential treatment programs continue to operate and can support home induction through partnerships with prescribers. For information on this, please contact the Addiction Helpline at 1-866-332-2322, or Health Link at 811.

For prescribers seeking advice regarding prescribing of OAT including buprenorphine/ naloxone and methadone, please contact the Opioid Use Disorder Consultation Service:
• If you are calling NORTH of Red Deer you can access the service by calling RAAPID North at 1-800-282-9911 or 1-780-735-0811.
• If you are calling SOUTH of Red Deer you can call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700 or 403-944-4488.