Turning Point says opioid crisis not over yet

That’s higher than Lethbridge (2.0), Edmonton (2.0) and Calgary (0.9).

Stacey Carmichael, Executive Director at Turning Point in Red Deer which currently operates a Temporary Overdose Prevention Site downtown and soon to operate a more-permanent Supervised Consumption Service later this year, says what stands out for her is that we still have a long way to go as a community.

“We did lose more people in our community the first nine months of 2018 than we did in all of 2017,” Carmichael points out. “So while the rates seem to be plateauing, or maybe even going down, that’s not necessarily meaning we’re over this crisis yet. We’re nowhere near, actually.”

Carmichael says the Temporary Overdose Prevention Site is having an impact since opening October 1.

“It’s a little early to tell whether or not it’s directly related, but I would hazard a guess that it is,” says Carmichael. “What I can tell you is that in that time that we have been open, we’ve had 4,782 visits to the site by 203 unique individuals.”

Carmichael says she’s grateful those individuals are using the facility because it’s allowed them to reverse 117 overdoses.

Lethbridge has seen 71,289 visits to its Supervised Consumption Service since opening February 28, reversing 623 overdoses.

In Calgary, there have been 36,420 site visits to its facility, with 540 overdose reversals since opening October 31, 2017.

In Edmonton, where all four planned Supervised Consumption Services have now opened, there have been 20,285 visits and 210 overdose reversals since the first site opened March 23, 2018.

Carmichael says Red Deer’s Supervised Consumption Services, planned to open later this year, will also include wrap-around services.

“Folks will have access to social workers and peer support workers,” she explains. “We’re going to partner with Alberta Health and other community service organizations on access to treatment and housing and mental health care. It’s going to make things a lot better for the folks who use the service and provide them with that connection but it will also help the community as well.”

On January 7, Red Deer city council will consider amendments to the Business License Bylaw that will include permanent Supervised Consumption Services after previously approving a development permit for Turning Point to operate the facility at 5233 54 Avenue.

Carmichael says a number of steps are already being taken to prepare for the opening.

“We’re starting to engage with the builders and trades and getting ready to apply for a building permit and get that going on,” she explains. “What it all comes down to is how quickly we can get through the building process, but the sooner the better for all sorts of reasons.”

The number of apparent accidental fentanyl poisoning deaths during Q3 of 2018, show 158 province-wide, with 12 of those being in Alberta Health Services (AHS) Central Zone.

There were 18 fentanyl poisoning deaths in Central Zone during Q1 and 19 in Q2.

Deaths by carfentanil poisoning in Alberta during Q3 of last year, show 32 province-wide and only one in Central Zone. That compares with four deaths in Q1 and eight in Q2.

Carmichael says a Supervised Consumption Services site is an important step in the right direction for alleviating the opioid crisis.

“Whether it be for the folks experiencing vagrancy or those types of concerns, or whether it be for the folks who are going to be using the service, we’re going to look forward to working with the community and the neighbours around our new site and making the best of a bad situation.”

Carmichael adds she can’t stress enough how important it is to recognize the opioid crisis is impacting all demographics of society.

“People should always have naloxone on them and never use drugs alone, whether they use regularly or recreationally.

“The drug supply is tainted, we just saw a report in Vancouver where people are bringing in cocaine and it’s being tested and it’s just pure fentanyl. It’s really super important that folks are informed, put their judgement aside and keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”

by Sheldon Spackman

Turning Point says opioid crisis not over yet

What's Trending