Pubdate: Sat, 12 Nov 2016
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: James Wood
Page: A3

CONSERVATIVES WARY OF SAFE SITES FOR ADDICTS

PCs say they would prefer to see money go to addictions treatment

As Alberta takes a hard look at safe drug consumption sites for
addicts, the plan is drawing support from health and law enforcement
officials but wariness from the government's political opponents.

The NDP government announced in October new measures to deal with
Alberta's opioid crisis, including $730,000 in funding for agencies in
several communities, including Calgary and Edmonton, working to
establish supervised consumption sites.

Associate Health Minister Brandy Payne said it's crucial to put
dollars toward harm reduction measures such as the sites, which
provide a medically supervised place for addicts to inject or consume
drugs.

But the Progressive Conservatives are questioning the funding
allocation, saying in a statement from caucus that it would "prefer to
see government invest these dollars into addictions treatment,
increasing the number of detox beds and addressing root causes of 
addiction."

"Money is so tight right now," Tory justice critic Mike Ellis said in
an interview this week.

"There are some really caring people in Alberta and I think that there
are other alternatives to obtaining money other than just getting it
from the government."

Ellis, a former Calgary police officer, said he isn't opposed to the
idea of safe consumption sites, but they also need to contain other
services to help drug users end their addiction.

The Wildrose Opposition would not make any caucus member available for
an interview on the subject of safe consumption sites but issued a
statement from Leader Brian Jean that said more needs to be done for
addicts, but "safe injection sites, however, are very
controversial."

"We are continuing to seek feedback from stakeholders and Albertans
about the impact of this policy. We will carefully watch how the
government consults with municipalities and those working in addiction
services on this initiative."

Jean served as an MP in the former federal Conservative government
that fought an extensive - but ultimately unsuccessful - legal battle
to shut down Vancouver-based Insite, Canada's only safe-injection site.

The federal Liberal government elected last year has promised to
loosen up the tight approval process for new supervised drug
consumption sites and Health Canada is currently considering three
applications for new facilities - one in Montreal and two in Vancouver.

Edmonton's Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services will use
$230,000 of the government's funding in part to push ahead efforts to
initiate an application to the federal government. Work is not as far
along in Calgary and the five other communities that host needle
exchange programs - Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray
and Grande Prairie - which will split the remaining $500,000 from the
province to explore the establishment of supervised consumption sites.

Leslie Hill, executive director of HIV Community Link, said a working
group, which is still under development itself, is starting to draw up
a project plan to do a needs assessment in Calgary.

"We believe that there is a need. If you look at the data around the
opiate overdose crisis, that would indicate there is a need," she said
this week.

"How great the need is and where the services would be best-positioned
- - that's the kind of stuff that remains to be seen."

Safe consumption has taken on a new urgency because of the deadly drug
fentanyl, which has caused 193 overdose deaths in the first nine
months of 2016.

A further 145 deaths are connected to other opioids.

Locally, the project has the support of the Calgary Police
Service.

"Consumption is occurring throughout our community in areas that we do
not want people to consume drugs," said Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta
of CPS's drug unit. "So if there's an opportunity to provide services
with addictions in a safe environment, the police would support that.

"We have people dying on a regular basis in our community from
fentanyl."

Among the issues that need to be dealt with are location, said
Schiavetta, adding that there is the possibility of mobile safe
consumption sites.

While there are often concerns raised over increased crime and
community safety problems related to safe consumption sites,
Schiavetta said that has not been borne out by the research done on
such facilities.

The NDP government has heard calls for safe consumption sites since
last year from Liberal Leader David Swann.

In an interview Thursday, the NDP's Payne said the government expects
the study in Calgary will show that a safe consumption facility is
needed.

Responding to concerns from opposition parties, she said there will be
extensive consultations at the community level and any new facility
will include "wraparound services" to help addicts.

"We really believe that these are an excellent way to move forward for
our province, " said Payne.
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MAP posted-by: Matt