Alberta's minister of mental health and addictions says he is "cautiously optimistic" about the lower number of opioid poisoning deaths in the first six months of 2024 compared to last year, but critics say it may be too soon to take a victory lap. 

"Our government knows that for anyone suffering from addiction, recovery is possible," Dan Williams said in a written statement. 

"That is why we are focused on the Alberta Recovery Model, creating a continuum of care with the right services to bring …