Government of Yukon launches live-in Managed Alcohol Program
Press Release
November 14, 2024
Keeping with commitments made in the Government of Yukon’s Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy and the 2023 Confidence and Supply Agreement, the Yukon’s first live-in Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) opened in Whitehorse on November 6, 2024. The MAP offers a structured, medically supported environment aimed at supporting Yukoners with severe and treatment-resistant alcohol use disorder. The program provides participants with direct access to managed, medically supervised doses of alcohol in a safe setting, as part of a tailored care plan, as well as health care and social services.
The MAP has been developed collaboratively with input from First Nations governments, health care providers and community partners to ensure culturally appropriate and effective care for Yukoners with severe, treatment-resistant alcohol use disorder. This program is modelled on similar MAPs operating in other Canadian jurisdictions, as these programs have demonstrated reductions in non-beverage alcohol use, public intoxication, emergency room visits, alcohol-related harms and law enforcement interactions.
Approximately $1.3 million in funding for the MAP is included in Budget 2024–25.
The MAP is designed to help individuals with chronic alcohol dependency who face barriers to participating in abstinence-based programs, providing them with a stable living environment and reducing the risk of alcohol-related harms. The program provides a dedicated 10-bed live-in facility that offers around-the-clock staffing, including nurses, support workers, social workers and medical oversight provided by the Referred Care Clinic’s addiction medicine team.
As a long-term component of the Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy, the MAP represents a proactive and compassionate response to Yukoners with severe alcohol use disorders, particularly those who are unhoused or face significant barriers to stability and support.
The launch of the live-in Managed Alcohol Program marks a significant advancement in our commitment to compassionate, person-centered, evidence-based care for Yukoners facing severe alcohol use disorder. This initiative not only addresses the immediate health and safety needs of individuals but also fosters social stability and helps reduce the strain on our health care and justice systems. By providing structured support and medically supervised alcohol management, we are offering a dignified path forward for some of our most vulnerable community members.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee
We’re proud to see another of our CASA commitments to harm reduction put into action. The Managed Alcohol Program offers long-overdue support to Yukoners who struggle with alcohol use. We welcome the launch of the live-in MAP program and we hope to see supports like this expand in the future including a drop-in, low-barrier MAP.
Leader of the Yukon NDP and MLA for Takhini-Kopper King Kate White
Quick facts
- The Managed Alcohol Program is an element of the Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy and the 2023 Confidence and Supply Agreement and is supported by both the Yukon Liberal government and the Yukon NDP Caucus.
- MAP will initially target individuals who are homeless or unstably housed, in addition to those frequently accessing emergency services for alcohol-related incidents.
- Each participant’s care plan will include regular assessments and customized dosing schedules that align with their individual needs and preferences to help manage cravings and stabilize consumption patterns.
- The program supports participants’ autonomy in daily life, encouraging participants to prepare their own meals and engage in basic household responsibilities within the program. This structure, reflecting national harm reduction standards, promotes a more stable lifestyle while mitigating the risks associated with alcohol withdrawal.
- The Government of Yukon held an open house on October 15, 2024, at the MAP facility. Local residents and businesses were invited to tour the space, meet the program team and learn about the Managed Alcohol Program’s goals and operations before its official launch.
Media contact
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Thibaut Rondel
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-7058
thibaut.rondel@yukon.ca
Laurie Tritschler
Yukon NDP
867-687-0284
laurie.tritschler@yla.gov.yk.ca
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