A $50 million funding boost was announced Thursday for the specialized police team that works on organized crime in Alberta. The province is also investing millions towards in a new drug court for Red Deer.

Alberta Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer says the high rate of drug use in the Lethbridge area makes it the natural place to begin taking action.

Don Morgan says the Saskatchewan government has plans to implement a drug treatment court in Saskatoon, but no timeline is in place.

Saskatoon’s Safe Community Action Alliance says change is needed to handle an increase in overdoses and crime in the city.

For more than a decade, Edmonton's Drug Treatment Court Program has helped hundreds of people rebuild their lives by replacing jail time with intensive therapy and support.