The future of Calgary’s only supervised consumption site remains uncertain as the Alberta government announced its closure last week. The site, located in the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, is set to shut down next year according to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction. The province plans to shift towards providing more treatment and recovery services, following similar closures in Red Deer and Edmonton.
The closure of the site, which was the first of its kind in Alberta and operated in the Beltline neighborhood, has sparked mixed reactions. While it has been praised for offering life-saving services, critics have blamed it for public drug use and increased calls to law enforcement in the area.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas expressed that the city has not received formal communication regarding the site’s future. He anticipates discussions with Premier Danielle Smith to address the continuity of services following the closure. The government’s previous plans to close the site in 2021 were met with debates, with the city council ultimately deciding against advocating for its closure due to provincial jurisdiction over health services.
The recent increase in visitors to the site, averaging 792 unique visitors per month in the second quarter of this year, highlights its ongoing necessity. However, the provincial government’s focus on recovery-focused care has raised concerns about the immediate response to overdose risks with the closure of supervised consumption sites.
While the organization overseeing mental health and addiction services in Alberta has not received a confirmed timeline for the closure, discussions are expected to ensure a smooth transition of services. Despite some local support for the closure, concerns persist about the lack of concrete plans and potential consequences of shutting down the site without adequate replacement services.
