City council will debate Tuesday whether or not to ask the province to close the supervised drug consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, and some Calgarians are planning to gather in opposition.
Coun. Dan McLean has put forward a Notice of Motion asking council advocate to the Alberta government for the closure of the site.
He cites the province’s move to the Alberta Recovery Model, which adopts a so-called recovery-oriented approach, as justification for his decision.
McLean wants the government to increase its investments in prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovey services and supports for those suffering from addiction and mental health.
McLean, as well as some people who live in the area, claim the site is a source of crime and disorder.
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Data from the Calgary Police Service (CPS) indicates the Beltline, where Chumir is located, has the highest crime rate in the city, according to McLean’s motion.
He says in 2018, following the opening of the site, there was a 276-per cent increase in drug-related calls for police in the area, as well as a 29 per cent rise in the overall number of calls for service compared to the three-year average.
A Maru Public Opinion poll done for CityNews last month shows Calgarians are nearly split when it comes to the potential closure of the site; 52 per cent of respondents said they wanted to see the site shut down, while 48 per cent said they want to keep it open.
The Safeworks Supervised Consumption Site provides a place where people who use drugs are monitored in a hygienic environment to reduce the harm of substance use. Users also get additional support and connection to recovery-oriented services such as substance use treatment and supports, mental health care, and housing.
Site users can also access sterile injection supplies and disposal equipment, drug poisoning prevention education and response training, including naloxone kits, and education on a variety of harm reduction topics, such as vein care, safer injection techniques, and HIV prevention.
Advocates say the site on 12 Avenue and 4 Street SW has reversed nearly 60,000 overdoses since it opened as a permanent service in 2018.
A protest is planned outside city hall ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
The issue will next be addressed at the Oct. 29 council meeting.