russellwatkins / Depositphotos.com
EDMONTON — Alberta’s government says it will close two supervised drug consumption sites in Calgary and Lethbridge and replace them with services focused on treatment and recovery, arguing the shift will better help people overcome addiction and improve community safety.
The province says the sites, located at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary and outside the Lethbridge Shelter, will shut down June 30, with funding redirected into addiction treatment, medical detox, recovery supports and round-the-clock outreach teams.
Officials say the move is part of a broader recovery-oriented model aimed at connecting people directly to care, including expanded rapid access addiction medicine services, additional withdrawal management beds and enhanced outreach to respond to overdoses and link patients to treatment.
The government points to research it says shows no increase in deaths or emergency calls after a similar site closure in Red Deer, along with an increase in people starting treatment.
Deputy Premier Mike Ellis said supervised consumption sites do not help people recover and that the new approach is intended to move individuals out of crisis and into long-term care. Mental Health and Addiction Minister Rick Wilson said recovery-focused services can help people rebuild their lives and restore wellness.
The Opposition NDP criticized the decision, saying it will make communities less safe and push drug use into public spaces.
In a statement, mental health and addiction critic Janet Eremenko said the government has had years to build a better system but instead is “moving drug use from supervised consumption sites to the street, to dark alleys, to doorsteps and to local businesses.”
She said the closures risk worsening safety for people with addictions, health-care workers and the public, and argued the province has failed to address housing shortages and long-term supports for people with complex mental illness.
Eremenko added a proper system should both keep people alive and support recovery, rather than removing supervised options.
The closures are scheduled to take effect June 30, with new and expanded services expected to be in place as the transition occurs.
Comments