What Recovery Alberta does

Recovery Alberta is a provincial health agency of the Government of Alberta, Canada, legally established on July 1, 2024, and operating as one of four crown entities carved out from Alberta Health Services to refocus delivery of mental health, addiction, and correctional health services. The organization serves all Albertans through a province-wide network that includes 15 opioid dependency treatment clinics, 10 provincial correctional facilities (serving approximately 3,500 adults and youth), 300+ contracted service providers, 2,000+ naloxone distribution sites, and 24/7 helplines covering mental health, addiction, suicide crisis, and Indigenous support. Service channels span in-person facilities, virtual care programs (Virtual Opioid Dependency Program and Virtual Rapid Access Addiction Medicine), and mobile applications including the Digital Overdose Response System (DORS).

The underlying technology platform is a hybrid healthcare service delivery model combining physical clinics, telemedicine via secure online appointments, mobile health applications, and digital outreach tools. Core products include VODP (same-day opioid agonist treatment initiation province-wide), VRAAM (virtual addiction medicine for alcohol, methamphetamine, and other substances), Correctional Health Services, the DORS overdose response app, naloxone distribution, the Greenhouse horticultural therapy program at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, brain injury rehabilitation at the Halvar Jonson Centre, and structured recovery programs such as the YMCA-partnered On Our Feet transitional recreation initiative. All programs are organized under the Alberta Recovery Model's four pillars: prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.

Recovery Alberta's business model is government appropriation-based rather than commercially priced. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction provides $1.13B CAD in annual operational funding, and all services are delivered free of charge to Albertans regardless of income or insurance status. The organization operates under ministerial oversight with licensing under the Mental Health Services Protection Act for residential addiction treatment and narcotics transition services. Headcount stands at over 10,000 staff and physicians as of 2024, with leadership including CEO and Board Chair Kerry Bales (formerly Chief Program Officer for Addiction and Mental Health at AHS) and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nicholas Mitchell. There are no external shareholders, venture investors, or commercial revenue streams; sustainability is wholly a function of continued provincial funding.

Name

Recovery Alberta

Legal name

Recovery Alberta

Website

https://recoveryalberta.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Recovery Alberta is a provincial crown health agency established in 2024 that delivers free mental health, addiction, and correctional health services to all Albertans through 15+ clinics, 10 correctional facilities, virtual care programs, helplines, and 300+ contracted providers, funded by a $1.13B annual appropriation from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health and Addiction Healthcare Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE), Post-Acute Transitional Care / Subacute Rehab Centers (HLADAJAN), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Services (EDALAFAE)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Addiction treatment
• Public healthcare
• Opioid dependency treatment
• Correctional health

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Funding: Recovery Alberta receives $1.13B in funding from the Government of Alberta Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction. Services are provided free of charge to all Albertans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Recovery Alberta is a provincial health agency that provides free, comprehensive, recovery-oriented mental health and addiction services to all Albertans. Its offerings span prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery across in-person clinics, correctional facilities, 24/7 helplines, virtual care programs (VODP and VRAAM), mobile overdose response (DORS app), residential recovery beds, school and workplace programs, Indigenous support services, and specialized rehabilitation such as the Halvar Jonson Centre for brain injury.

Product overview

Recovery Alberta is a provincial health agency established July 1, 2024, providing comprehensive and accessible recovery-oriented mental health and addiction services across Alberta. The organization operates as a portfolio of interconnected programs and services rather than a single unified product. Core offerings include the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) and Virtual Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (VRAAM) for virtual treatment, the Addiction Helpline and Mental Health Helpline (24/7 confidential support lines), Correctional Health Services serving 10 provincial facilities, Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) mobile app, and Naloxone Kit Distribution. Additional services span youth substance use programs, Indigenous support services, school-based mental health initiatives, therapeutic recreation programs like On Our Feet, horticultural therapy through the Greenhouse Program, and specialized brain injury rehabilitation at the Halvar Jonson Centre. All services follow the Alberta Recovery Model's four pillars: prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) A virtual program providing same-day initiation and maintenance of Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) medications to people with opioid use disorder across Alberta, with no requirement to access physical sites. Accessible via secure online appointments, available to all Albertans at no cost.
• Virtual Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (VRAAM) Virtual addiction treatment program providing same-day or next-day assessment, medication-assisted treatment, virtual counseling, and referrals for substances beyond opioids including alcohol and methamphetamine, delivered through secure online appointments with physicians, counselors, and peer support specialists.
• Correctional Health Services Healthcare services provided to approximately 3,500 adults and youth at Alberta's 10 provincial correctional facilities, including primary care, mental health, addiction support, opt-out infectious disease testing, and transition of care upon release.
• Mental Health Helpline 24-hour, 7-day-a-week confidential helpline (1-877-303-2642) providing support, information, and referrals to Albertans experiencing mental health concerns.
• Addiction Helpline 24-hour, 7-day-a-week confidential helpline (1-866-332-2322) for Albertans experiencing addiction, including gambling, providing support, information, and referrals.
• Indigenous Support Line Confidential telephone service (1-844-944-4744) for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples providing culturally safe supportive listening, connections to health resources, Indigenous cultural supports, and help with addiction and mental health concerns.
• Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) A free mobile app that allows Albertans using opioids or other substances to summon emergency response to their location if they become unconscious while alone, helping prevent overdose deaths.
• Naloxone Kit Distribution Free naloxone kits available at over 2,000 sites across Alberta, with training provided, to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid poisoning or overdose.
• Youth & Young Adults Substance Use Services Resources and services for youth, young adults, and parents regarding substance use and addiction, including teen alcohol and drug use information, gambling support, and digital overdose response tools.
• Recovery-Oriented Care A coordinated network of personalized services and supports providing continuum of care options based on the Alberta Recovery Model's four pillars: prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.
• Mental Health Capacity Building in Schools Initiative Program promoting positive mental health in children, youth, and families in communities where they live, delivered in collaboration with Alberta schools.
• On Our Feet Program A 12-week transitional therapeutic recreation program offered in partnership with the YMCA, helping clients progress in their recovery journey through structured fitness activities.
• Greenhouse Program at Alberta Hospital Edmonton Horticultural therapy and vocational rehabilitation program for psychiatric inpatients at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, providing meaningful activities and community connections through plant cultivation.
• Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury Specialized facility providing speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation services for patients with acquired brain injuries at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
• Community-Based Recovery Beds Community-based mental health and addiction recovery beds (60 in total) supporting patient flow from hospital care into structured rehabilitation and recovery supports.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,689 individuals treated through Opioid Dependency Program in the past year (up from 7,883 previous year)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Government of Alberta - Ministry of Mental Health and AddictioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024The Ministry provides $1.13B in funding for Recovery Alberta in 2024, as well as oversight for the organization. The Ministry helps inform an Alberta model of addiction and recovery to improve access to recovery-oriented services.
• Alberta Health Services (AHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecovery Alberta works in close collaboration with AHS to deliver healthcare to Albertans. AHS provides clinical and corporate support services essential to the operation of Recovery Alberta programs and services.
• Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoRE ensures Alberta leads in developing data-driven policies and best practices for mental health and addiction recovery by informing best practices, conducting program evaluation, and analyzing data to support development of objective and practical policy.
• Covenant HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecovery Alberta works in collaboration with Covenant Health to provide mental health and addiction care services.
• 300+ Contracted Service ProvidersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecovery Alberta works with over 300 contracted service providers to deliver mental health care, addiction care, and correctional health services to Albertans.
• Edmonton Police Service (EPS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPS HELP (Human-centred Engagement and Liaison Partnership) teams help individuals access recovery-oriented health supports and programs such as the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP).
• Hope Mission - Herb Jamieson CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency response team in place to monitor clients at Hope Mission's Herb Jamieson Centre, responding to mental health and addiction crises including overdoses.
• YMCAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer the On Our Feet program - a 12-week transitional therapeutic recreation program for clients progressing in their recovery journey.
• Family Services of Central AlbertamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Mothers Recovery group - a weekly support group for women in recovery from substance abuse, offered in Red Deer.
• Alberta Hospital Edmonton - Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain InjurymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialized brain injury rehabilitation facility where speech-language pathologists and interdisciplinary teams help patients recover speech, language, and cognitive abilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, based in Toronto. CAMH is directly comparable as a specialized behavioral health and substance use treatment provider serving a broad public population, with research and clinical programs analogous to Recovery Alberta's portfolio.
• Homewood Health: Canada's largest private provider of mental health, addiction, and trauma treatment, operating residential and outpatient programs across the country. Comparable as a direct competitor in clinical mental health and addiction services with overlapping treatment modalities (residential, outpatient, virtual).
• BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services: Provincial program within the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia delivering specialized mental health and substance use services. Closest Canadian analog to Recovery Alberta in scope, structure, and public-mandate operating model.
• Edgewood Health Network: Canadian private addiction and mental health treatment provider offering residential, outpatient, and virtual programs across multiple provinces. Comparable as a Canadian specialty addiction treatment operator serving patients with overlapping needs (substance use, concurrent disorders).

Others

• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): National federation providing mental health promotion, advocacy, and community-based service delivery across Canada. Comparable as an ecosystem participant with overlapping community-level services in mental health and addiction recovery, often partnered with provincial health agencies.
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA): National Canadian organization providing leadership on substance use policy, research, and evidence-based guidance. Comparable as a partner and ecosystem participant rather than a direct provider, but thematically aligned as a knowledge body informing Recovery Alberta's clinical and policy approach.

Broad incumbents

• Alberta Health Services: Alberta's broader provincial health authority from which Recovery Alberta was spun out in 2024. AHS continues to provide clinical and corporate support services to Recovery Alberta, making it the closest institutional counterpart and operational parent for the Alberta healthcare context.
• Saskatchewan Health Authority: Single provincial health authority in Saskatchewan delivering integrated health services including mental health and addictions. Comparable as another Canadian province that consolidated health services into a single authority, providing structural parallel to Alberta's agency reform.
• Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA): BC's provincial health authority that oversees specialized services including BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Comparable as a province-wide public health authority structure analogous to Recovery Alberta's position within Alberta's four-agency reform.

Regional players

• ConnexOntario: Ontario-funded helpline and service-information service for mental health, addiction, and gambling concerns. Directly comparable as a regional publicly-funded front-door helpline and service-navigation resource analogous to Recovery Alberta's 24/7 Addiction and Mental Health Helplines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recoveryalberta

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Recovery Alberta