(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

"Orderly transition"

Red Deer city council requests the province to remove OPS and replace it with other services

Feb 16, 2024 | 6:19 PM

Red Deer city council will be requesting the Government of Alberta (GOA) to remove the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) out of Red Deer and replace it with other addictions and mental health services in its place.

At their second day of a non-statutory public hearing on the matter, council will be requesting the following from the GOA:

• formalize an orderly transition of the existing OPS out of Red Deer by the end of 2025;
• provide in its place greater harm reducing options within the community that focus on health, wellness, and recovery, including more detox capacity, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), recovery coaches, counsellors, and culturally appropriate health and wellness supports, etc.;
• provide dedicated grant funding to provide a continuous police presence/enforcement in the immediate vicinity of the OPS and temporary shelter, until the crime and social disorder impacts associated with these provincial services are better mitigated for the safety and security of the public;
• substantially increase front-line supports for mental health and addictions within the community/region to better address the root causes leading to drug and alcohol addictions.

The decisions stem from a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Vesna Higham on December 18, 2023. After being read into the record on January 22, 2024, a non-statutory public hearing was held this Thursday where approximately 40 members of the public attended, and over 30 shared their thoughts on the issue.

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Higham reiterated that while the decision is not binding, since the OPS (5246 53 Ave.) is under the provincial jurisdiction, it sends a message to authorities that the current system is not working. She added that the intent of the notice is not to pull the plug on the OPS, but to replace it with a better strategy.

“While it [OPS] does save lives in the short term, admittedly no question, from a broader community perspective it appears in fact to be increasing the harm that over time actually perpetuates exponentially more deaths for the simple fact that more people become sucked into the vortex of addiction,” she said.

She stated that when the OPS was established in 2018, there were 120 unique individuals using the site and around 50 people utilizing the temporary shelter across the street. Today, over 250 unique individuals use the OPS and 220 people have stayed at the shelter in one night.

Higham stressed the importance of increased policing by the GOA not only because the OPS is of provincial responsibility, but also to crack down on the numerous drug dealings taking place in the open area, reportedly seen by nearby business owners.

Councillor Victor Doerksen added that the sale of drugs should be considered manslaughter, referencing a comment made yesterday by a resident calling the closure of the OPS as “civic manslaughter”. Doerksen said not only do users overdose but family members are impacted,  noting a recent story in Winnipeg where two parents have been charged for manslaughter after the death of their one-year-old daughter from fentanyl intoxication.

Councillor Cindy Jefferies, who opposed the resolutions along with Councillor Dianne Wyntjes, sharing an emotional story about her mother who suffered from addictions. She said it was because of family support that her mother was able to reach sobriety, and the OPS provides a means of connection for those who utilize it.

Kath Hoffman, Executive Director of the Safe Harbour Society, currently running the temporary shelter and who formerly ran the OPS, said that while it is good to increase services for those who are ready to stop using drugs, it ignores the group of people that are still actively using and causing distress to the community.

“Yesterday was really encouraging to have so many people coming and speaking and informing council and the rest of the community about how complex this is,” she said.

“It sent a message to the province that the City of Red Deer, through this process, is saying it’s okay to get rid of the OPS.”

Higham acknowledged that while the province has lagged on advancements in the hospital, she believes they will be receptive to the motion given their goals towards a model of wellness and recovery from addictions.

One example, she says, is to increasing funding and accessibility for the Opioid Dependency Program (ODP), which provides medications and psychological support for those recovering from opioids. While initially predicting a maximum of 100 interested participants, she says the program now has almost 300 registered individuals in less than six months. She added the Red Deer Recovery Community, which was initially supposed to have 100 treatment beds but was instead built with 75 beds, should be expanded as it is currently full, with roughly 25 people on a six-month waiting list.

Higham added that ideally all these measures would add to the wraparound services planned for the future Permanent Integrated Shelter, which still has no update.

“The public hearing and the debate of this motion were harrowing and emotional experiences for everyone. Each of us have been touched in some way by addiction; we heard that very clearly, and I am no exception. We heard heartfelt testimony from many members of our community, citizens, some who use the OPS, some who are service providers in the community, business owners, doctors, family members that have lost loved ones, and more,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “Council approached this most sensitive of issues with open minds, open ears, and open hearts. We are trying to improve lives for those suffering from addiction.”

The mayor will now reach out to the Ministry of Addictions and Mental Health to advocate for next steps.

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