By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Supervised consumption at Edmonton hospital different from Red Deer situation, according to local officials

Mar 28, 2018 | 4:46 PM

With more and more supervised consumption sites opening up in Alberta’s major cities and in different forms, residents are likely curious about when or what kind of facility will eventually surface in Red Deer.

On Tuesday, the Government of Alberta announced a six-booth, 24/7 SCS would be opening Monday within Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. The services will be only for in-patients who are there receiving treatment for something else.

Last December, Red Deer city council designated the Red Deer Regional Hospital grounds as the only location zoned for a fixed site supervised consumption facility.

Stacey Carmichael, Executive Director at Red Deer’s Turning Point says it’s important to note that what was announced for Edmonton is completely different than the ongoing process here.

“I’m sure they’ll be operated in a similar way and the purpose is exactly the same — to reduce overdose fatalities,” she says. “But the one in the Royal Alex will prevent people from leaving the hospital prematurely so that they can maintain their treatment plans, whether it might be for cancer, mental health concerns or what have you.”

Plate cap removal

Taxi drivers protest proposed Vehicle for Hire bylaw changes in Red Deer

4h ago

are you convinced?

Roughly 300 Red Deerians attend first byelction forum for new city councillor

6h ago

Two Of Them

Red Deer road closures

11h ago

Carmichael says what’s happening in Edmonton is actually a novel idea, but it isn’t for just anyone to use as they walk in from the street.

“What we don’t want to do is have people think this is what The City of Red Deer is proposing, because it’s not,” she says. “It’s great, but it’s completely different.”

Carmichael agrees that if and when Red Deer gets a new hospital, this is a model which could be incorporated.

Mayor Tara Veer also notes the differences between the two scenarios, despite both being linked to hospitals.

“There is recognition first and foremost that the opioid crisis is a health crisis and that obviously Alberta Health Services is an integral partner with respect to our community response,” she says. “With respect to the land use zoning that council went through, the Red Deer situation does not prescribe that it must be inside the hospital, rather that the hospital grounds are zoned for supervised consumption purposes if indeed that is the route a potential service provider wanted to pursue.”

Veer says Red Deer has more in common with Calgary where a temporary portable site was used at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre prior to a permanent SCS opening in January.

Veer says licensing bylaw amendments will be on city council’s desks for consideration likely within the next two weeks.

Needs assessments have also been completed for Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Edson.

Earlier this month, the province’s emergency opioid commission recommended Red Deer establish a fixed supervised consumption site at Turning Point.