Prospectively Evaluating Virtual Overdose Monitoring Services in Alberta

Participation Requirements

• Sex:

  Any

• Eligible Ages:

  18 and up

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
Adults of any gender aged greater than 18 time of consent. Resident of Alberta, Canada at time of consent. Resident of Alberta for 35 years prior to consent. People who actively use unregulated substances (e.g., methamphetamine, fentanyl) for non-medical purposes, defined as ≥ 1 episode of use within the last seven days. Proficient ability to read, write, speak English language. Willing to provide personal healthcare number (PHN) at time of consent. Active Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) at time of consent. Access to a smart phone (e.g., with active cellphone plan at time of consent). Able to provide informed consent – have the cognitive capacity to understand the implications, risks and benefits of participation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Age < 18. Immediate plans to move outside of Alberta. People with prior substance use, but no current use, and those who are actively in recovery or addiction treatment. Inadequate English proficiency. Unwilling to provide PHN for research purposes. Discontinued/interrupted insurance coverage between consent date and 3 years prior. No reliable access to a smart phone or cellular service. Severe mental or intellectual disabilities (e.g., Down’s syndrome), requiring a proxy decision-maker (e.g., people in intensive care), sufficiently impaired on substances/alcohol precluding ability to provide consent.