Red Deer’s overdose prevention site going mobile; AHS taking over from Turning Point

“Alberta Health Services is an accountable and proven operator that has experience managing these services across Alberta. My ministry will be working closely with AHS and the current operator over the next few months to smoothly transition these operations, ensuring there are no gaps in service for clients of the services.”

MEETING QUALITY STANDARDS

rdnewsNOW asked the province if it means to say that Turning Point has not been meeting quality standards implemented last year.

In response, Ministry Senior Press Secretary Colin Aitchison says: “In October 2018, the Turning Point OPS was established as a temporary measure while the province, Alberta Health Services (AHS), Turning Point and the City of Red Deer all worked together to determine an alternative longer-term plan for supervised consumption services in the city. Alberta’s government has been working with the City of Red Deer on next steps for this temporary measure.”

Aitchison also shares the $2.74 million provided to Turning Point annually for OPS operations will be maintained when AHS takes over. As will the capacity at the OPS, he says, which is four booths open 24/7.

He noted lastly that there will be no change in the requirement for cleaning services and washrooms to be provided in the vicinity of the site. Currently, the Downtown Business Association’s Clean Team provides cleaning services daily. This is something The City of Red Deer notes in the Feb. 6, 2023 council agenda (page 85) as having made a difference for businesses and residents near the temporary shelter, which is next door to the OPS.

A BUSY 4+ YEARS

From its opening in October 2018 through January 2023, a span of about 4.5 years, the Red Deer OPS had nearly 169,000 visits, according to Turning Point.

While there have been nearly 5,500 adverse events (5,003 requiring oxygen; 1,564 requiring naloxone; some both), there has never been a death at the site.

In a statement released late Friday afternoon, Turning Point Society calls the province’s edict “unexpected.”

“Turning Point Society has a 35-year relationship with our community, and it has taken time to create a safe environment for the vast population we serve,” says Stacey Carmichael, Turning Point executive director, adding that a quick transition will likely create hesitation for clients accessing future services. “Should the operation of the OPS transition to AHS, it is critical the same capacity level is maintained, and the same services be provided.”

Carmichael notes 60 people are employed by Turning Point to staff the OPS, and now face unemployment.

Meantime, Mayor Ken Johnston says Turning Point is to be thanked for its service and for saving lives over the past several years.

“We are confident this new AHS-operated mobile site will continue to meet the needs of our residents,” says Johnston, then touching on a separate but related matter.

“I also want to extend a formal apology to Turning Point and the service providers in our community who learned about transition after overhearing one of our city council members talking with a provincial colleague about it in the community. We know this is unacceptable, and for that we apologize.”

Mayor Johnston declined to identify the member of council involved because he is still gathering information.

“Staff at Turning Point are people who’ve served our community to the finest extent over the last four-plus years, and then coming into the news the way they did.”

Johnston clarified this transition was not a request of the City.

Once the transition is complete, it will be operated initially at the same location, adjacent to Safe Harbour (5246 53 Ave.) in Railyards. The location will change based on input from the municipality and community, the province says.

According to the province, the mobile unit will be regulated and required to meet quality standards outlined in the Recovery-oriented Supervised Consumption Standards to be licensed. Overdose prevention site service providers must also demonstrate clearly defined referral pathways to detox, treatment and recovery services, as well as primary health-care services.

“We have made significant strides in reducing the number of overdose fatalities in central Alberta,” Carmichael adds. “However, the data shows that the demand for the life-saving services offered through the OPS are just as essential today as they were when we opened.”

Turning Point’s services range from harm reduction to health promotion, rural outreach, its NightReach program, and a Women’s Program.

At day’s end, the province says this is all part of its overall plan to build a recovery-oriented system of care, which includes adding 9,000 publicly-funded treatment spaces, eliminating fees for residential addiction treatment, launching the Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) app and expanding opioid agonist treatment.

EXPERT SAYS TRANSITION IS RISKY

One expert says the transition is risky, seemingly abrupt, and lacking rationale.

“When we are talking about people who use substances or illegal drugs, we know it’s something that’s very highly stigmatized, meaning people struggle or are reluctant to seek help,” says Dr. Elaine Hyshka, an associate professor at the University of Alberta School of Public Health, and Canada Research Chair in Health Systems Innovation.

“It takes quite some time to establish a service and build trust with the community who uses the drugs, and to attract them to the service while establishing it as a safe place. My main concern is that Turning Point has a long track record of providing services very effectively. Nobody has died there, and they’re connecting people to other services in and outside of Red Deer.”

Hyshka points out the overdose epidemic continues to a very serious degree.

“We are seeing people every week in Red Deer die from overdose deaths, so I question making such an abrupt change to the care being provided,” she says. “There doesn’t seem to be a strong rationale, and it risks destabilizing many relationships built among people who access and deliver the service. If they don’t feel comfortable going, they’ll be at higher risk of dying.”

Most recent data shows there were 39 overdose deaths in Red Deer through the first 11 months of 2022. There were 39 in all of 2021, and 49 in 2020.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer’s overdose prevention site going mobile; AHS taking over from Turning Point

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