Supervised consumption services should be at Turning Point, Commission says

Stacey Carmichael with Turning Point is pleased with the recommendation given it’s what they’ve been asking for all along.

“They’re letting good research determine their logic, so to speak. We wholeheartedly agree with them,” she said Friday. “In my experience the recommendations and decisions they [Commission] make are based on what’s best for folks who are in the midst of this crisis.”

Carmichael admits a mobile site is better than no site, but notes it’s only a partial solution.

“Since Turning Point has not made any application at all to date, we are under the impression that we could apply to have our site considered,” she explained. “We’re looking at different options and trying to figure out what’s best, we’re still under the opinion that our current site is the best.”

Mayor Tara Veer says that option isn’t available because rezoning of the Turning Point site was already considered in December – and any development permit application would have to be for a site where a particular use is already permitted or discretionary.

Veer reiterates that the only current option for a permanent site is at the hospital.

“I think the results were expected, particularly for Red Deer — because Red Deer has a high rate of overdose deaths,” Veer says of the Commission’s recommendation.

“We are also expecting the regulations to come forward in the next month or two with respect to mobile consumption services, and because this report is so clear in its articulation with respect to Red Deer, we would fully expect that a local agency would be making application for federal exemption, which would trigger a public consultation process.”

rdnewsNOW last spoke to Turning Point earlier this week when we reported there had been 11 deaths from opioid overdoses in Red Deer during January and February. Carmichael confirms that since then, there has been at least one more.

The Minister’s Opioid Emergency Response Commission was established May 31, 2017 to support the Government of Alberta’s urgent response to the opioid crisis. As part of its mandate, the Commission is responsible for making recommendations to the Minister for timely coordinated actions to address opioid use and related issues.

The commission is co-chaired by Dr. Karen Grimsrud and Dr. Elaine Hyshka and includes representation from a diverse group affected by the opioid crisis, including law enforcement, Indigenous communities, harm-reduction program experts and parent advocates.

by Josh Hall and Troy Gillard

Supervised consumption services should be at Turning Point, Commission says

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