Treating an opioid-use disorder will be much easier in the province with a brand a new initiative.
Today (Tuesday), the provincial government launched the Opioid Treatment Access Line so residents can receive faster and easier access to get life-saving medication along with same-day care.
“When people struggling with opioid addiction decide to reach out for help, they need access to treatment and care quickly, free from barriers,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “This new confidential access line will help people across B.C. start on a path to recovery right away. It’s part of our work to expand access to treatment and recovery so people can get the care they need, where and when they need it.”
The Opioid Treatment Access Line is a provincewide telephone-based health service.
People struggling with opioid addiction can call 1 833 804-8111 toll-free for immediate assistance from a dedicated team, including doctors and nurses, who can prescribe life-saving opioid agonist medications.
In addition, callers will also be directly connected to regional health-care teams for ongoing treatment and support within their community.
The service is confidential, and is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
It is estimated that there are at least 125,000 people living with opioid-use disorder in B.C., and there are approximately 24,000 people currently on opioid agonist treatment.
“Opioid agonist treatments can reduce the harmful symptoms of opioid use and support long-term recovery, but too often people face challenges with getting a prescription when they need it,” said Dr. Penny Ballem, the Premier’s special adviser on health care.
“Through this new telephone service, people from anywhere in B.C. can quickly and easily get an assessment and be prescribed the treatments they need to start their healing journey.”
In 2021, B.C. became the first province in Canada to train nurses to prescribe opioid agonist medications, and nearly 200 nurses are already helping people access this life-saving treatment with more to come.
Furthermore, the number of toxic-drug deaths in the first six months of 2024 was 9% lower compared to the same period in 2023, with the rate of death at its lowest point in four years.
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