Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jun 2017
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Yolanda Cole
Page: A1

PLANS INCH AHEAD FOR CITY'S FIRST SAFE DRUG-USE SITE

Alberta Health Services has submitted an application to establish
Calgary's first supervised consumption site for drug users in the
Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, Associate Minister of Health Brandy
Payne confirmed Wednesday.

The announcement comes as the province comes to grips with an opioid
crisis that has killed hundreds, and as Edmonton seeks to open four
supervised consumption sites.

Community consultations on the proposed service at the Beltline
facility will take place over the coming weeks, beginning with the
distribution of postcards to residents and businesses within a
two-kilometre radius of the health centre to notify them of
small-group discussions.

Payne said last month AHS began a federal exemption application
process.

To establish supervised consumption services, an application must be
made to Health Canada for an exemption for medical purposes under the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act.

"This facility was identified as a potential location because of the
wraparound services that are already here, such as primary care,
counselling and mental health supports," Payne said at a news
conference at the health centre. "This facility was identified as a
potential location because of the wraparound services that are already
here, such as primary care, counselling and mental health supports,"
Payne said at a news conference at the health centre.

"Clients can also access opioid dependency treatment, which can
include counselling, methadone or suboxone treatment as a safer
alternative to illicit drugs."

Both Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Calgary police Chief Roger Chaffin have
written letters of support to accompany the federal
application.

Nenshi said the city must move forward "based on the
evidence."

"And the evidence is that these services keep people alive," he
said.

Dr. Nicholas Etches, medical officer of health for the Calgary zone of
Alberta Health Services, said supervised consumption services provide
a place where people can use drugs in a monitored, hygienic
environment to reduce harm from substance use.

"Supervised consumption services have been shown to reduce overdose
deaths, reduce transmission of disease, reduce public substance use
and reduce publicly discarded needles," he said.

Petra Schulz, who lost her 25-year-old son, Danny, to a fentanyl
overdose in 2014, said she's pleased Calgary is moving in the
direction of supervised consumption services.

But she added that while the service is "very-much needed," she also
wants to see different solutions for drug users outside the downtown.

"We need to bring rapid access to treatment wherever people are … so
this is great, but we can't stop here," she said.

"We need to move out, and not just in the suburban communities, the
cities, but there are many rural Albertans that are using drugs and
that need help."

In the first three months of 2017, there were 113 deaths from a
fentanyl overdose in Alberta. More than 50 of those deaths were in
Calgary. Last year, the majority of people who died of opioid
overdoses in both Calgary and Edmonton lived outside the city's core.
However, the areas with the highest concentration of EMS responses to
opioid-related events in 2016 were the downtown areas, according to
information from Alberta Health.

Chaffin said police would accept "no increase in social disorder" in
the area surrounding the site or anyone "preying on" people attending
the clinic.

Payne said the province is hoping to be able to open the doors on the
new facility by the end of this year.
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MAP posted-by: Matt