A man waits to enter the Safeworks supervised consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary on Aug. 26, 2021.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
The debate over supervised consumption services in Calgary is not just about drug policy – it’s about community safety, public health and ensuring that people receive the care they need. And with overdose rates alarmingly high, the city must decide how best to respond to the crisis.
While some are concerned about the effect of these services on their neighbourhoods, particularly when it comes to public drug use, we need to look closely at the evidence. Supervised consumption services, or SCS, not only save lives, but actually make our communities safer. Rather than closing these sites, we should be expanding them city-wide.
While closing these services might seem like a quick fix, doing so will not actually address people’s concerns. Public drug use has more to do with a lack of affordable housing, the increased cost of living and the lack of low-barrier mental-health supports.
SCS have been adopted by countries around the world and are recognized as a key health care service. The sites provide a place where people can bring their own drugs to use in a supervised and monitored environment. In accordance with strict Health Canada regulations, the sites do not supply drugs.
People who use SCS are provided with clean supplies (including needles) to reduce the risk of infections such as HIV and hepatitis. If they have an overdose or strange reaction, a trained health professional can step in to help. While inside, people can also use the bathroom, see a nurse or speak with a social worker. Any used needles are safely disposed of at the site.
It’s understandable that people might feel uneasy about the presence of SCS in their community. Many fear an increase in crime, visible drug use or “social disorder” near these sites. These are valid concerns that need to be addressed. However, the data consistently show that SCS do not lead to increased crime or disorder. On the contrary, they help reduce public drug consumption, lower the amount of needle debris, connect individuals to life-saving care and reduce health care costs by intervening early on developing concerns.
Closing supervised consumption sites in Ontario is a fatal mistake
SCS improve public health in ways that benefit all Calgarians. Without these sites, people living downtown can expect to see more people in public spaces using substances, experiencing overdoses and even dying. Though it might seem counterintuitive, supervised consumption services actually make our streets, parks and neighbourhoods safer for everyone.
The fear of seeing our city’s overdose crisis close-up is real, but shuttering or restricting SCS is not the answer. Without indoor, monitored spaces, people are forced to use drugs in public parks, alleyways and other unsupervised areas, which only compounds the risks to both them and the broader community.
But supervised consumption services are about more than just drug use. They play a key role in addressing health and social issues that would likely go unresolved without intervention by offering on-site health care, wraparound supports and referrals to housing. SCS may even increase chances people attend detox and recovery programs.
The Sheldon Chumir SCS in Calgary has been a lifeline for many. In 2023, staff responded to more than 2,000 medical emergencies, including more than 800 instances where naloxone was administered to prevent an overdose death. And in the first quarter of 2024, it has seen more than 10,000 visits and its staff has made 1,000 referrals to housing programs, addiction and detox treatment, social work support and other health care services. Clearly, this issue goes far beyond the immediate needs of someone in crisis.
It is important to note that while Sheldon Chumir SCS provides essential services to thousands of Calgarians, the site was not built in a way that allows people to smoke drugs inside – they must inject. This pushes many to use their drugs outside, resulting in public use and discarded pipes. Enhancements to the existing site, or an additional site that permits smoking, would go a long way to addressing some of the concerns voiced by members of the community.
The shuttering of Lethbridge’s supervised consumption site in 2020 provides a stark warning. After its closing, needle debris quickly increased and the city experienced a devastating rise in overdoses. The loss of this crucial service left many people with nowhere safe to turn and, coupled with an increase in homelessness, made drug use more visible. The heightened awareness of the growing crisis has contributed to a declining sense of safety. If Calgary closes or limits the Sheldon Chumir site – or does not expand services to other areas of the city – it risks facing similar challenges.
Calgary has the opportunity to strengthen its approach by expanding SCS to underserved areas and introducing safer smoking facilities. These upgrades would allow the city to adapt to the changing landscape of drug use with both compassion and pragmatism. Decentralizing these essential services, building more housing and addressing the soaring cost of living would help all those living downtown. City council can lead by ensuring that everyone – regardless of where they live or the challenges they face – has access to life-saving health care.
City council must act – not out of fear, but out of a commitment to making Calgary a better, safer place for all. By expanding SCS, continuing to support the Sheldon Chumir site and listening to the needs of those who use these services, we can build a future where fewer lives are lost and our communities are healthier, safer and more resilient.
Kate Colizza is an Addiction Medicine physician working in Calgary and Patty Wilson is a nurse practitioner providing addiction care in Calgary.