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By Shaun Penner
Supervised Consumption Services

Harm reduction, recovery & improved community safety the aim of new Alberta SCS guidelines

Jun 4, 2021 | 5:30 AM

New guidance has been laid out by the Alberta government for supervised consumption site operators, which brings in a uniform set of standards those operators must maintain to continue to be licensed to operate.

The guidance is set out in the new Recovery-Oriented Overdose Prevention Program Services Guide, which lays out requirements like ensuring the safety and security of clients, employees and the surrounding community, staff qualifications and training, and having clearly defined referral pathways to detox, treatment and recovery services.

Speaking with EverythingGP on the matter, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jason Luan says these changes aim to continue to reduce harm to drug users, but also to create better access to treatment and recovery supports, as well as to reduce social disorder that impacts properties surrounding such facilities.

“What we are trying to do here is provide a balanced approach, while recognizing people are at a different stage of their readiness and their journey for recovery,” said Luan.

“Some need (safe consumption services), while others can go directly to treatment services and other services available to them.”

The new guidance follows consultations that were held back in 2019 by the province’s Supervised Consumption Committee, which included a town hall in Grande Prairie.

The issues and improvement areas found by the committee were then used to formulate the guidance, which is the first of its kind in Canada.

Luan says one of the main issues identified by the provincially appointed committee was that there was no singular set of standards for SCS’ to follow, which created inconsistencies in how Alberta’s consumption sites operated day-to-day.

“No longer will that be the plan moving forward,” said Luan.

Also among the new guidance, which Luan calls another step in building the province’s recovery-oriented approach to addressing addictions issues, is the need to create a “Good Neighbour Agreement” with property owners within a 200 metre radius of the site, as social disorder has been a key concern at sites around Alberta.

Northreach Society Executive Director Johnathon Fortune, the organization that operates the Grande Prairie site, says they welcome the new guidelines.

He adds the organization, which has operated the mobile SCS in Grande Prairie since March of 2019, already meets most of the requirements laid out as they needed to provide a similar framework to get an exemption for Health Canada to operate the site.

“Most things in the guide are already something that we had to have in place, and continue to have in place, in order to receive that exemption from Health Canada,” said Fortune.

“We’re already doing most things in the guide.”

Luan stressed that the new regulations for such sites are meant to hammer home the point of creating a path to recovery, rather than merely providing a place to safely use drugs.

Fortune adds in the over two years of the Grande Prairie site’s operations, it has had over 17,000 visits from over 300 unique individuals.

With that, he says those users have also been provided those recovery-oriented supports and services to help them try to regain control of their lives and beat their addiction.

“We’ve had many referrals to detox, almost 100, almost 50 for treatment, and lots of housing referrals too,” said Fortune, adding they have also been able to reverse over 200 overdose events since beginning operations.

No one has died from an overdose while utilizing the site.

“Other than people using substances in the facility, there is a whole other side of it that makes sure people get access to the services that people need.”

The province’s new framework also aims to place supervised consumption services where there is a need, which will see the site in Calgary’s downtown core be closed down in favour of two new sites in other locations of the city.

As for Grande Prairie though, Luan says the plan is to move services from the mobile unit parked outside the Rotary House, to a permanent set-up inside the facility.

He also notes the many services and supports already established at the Rotary House for SCS clients.

“It makes sense that we make that a permanent (site),” Luan stated.

That sentiment was echoed by Fortune.

“It’s been a success so far. It wouldn’t make sense to change things up or move it somewhere else.”

Luan and Fortune both say Northreach and the Ministry will continue to work out the finer details of the transition, specifically about how and when that move would be best.

Additionally, Luan says he is committed to having Northreach remain the SCS service provider.

“Our ministry is keeping their operations as is through the transition so that there is no reduction of grants or no reduction of their budget.”

These changes come amid a record year for opioid overdoses in the province, as well as Grande Prairie. In 2020, 33 people died of an accidental opioid poisoning in the Swan City, while 1,144 people died across the province.

Acknowledging the heavy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health restrictions, Luan applauded the organizations in Grande Prairie for adapting to best support those in need.

“During the pandemic, they did a great job of connecting people,” said Luan.

“I want to thank them for their contribution, and I want to continue to encourage them, as we move forward to transform Alberta’s mental health and addictions system.”

by Shaun Penner