Supervised Consumption Sites in Calgary: a missed opportunity for supporting community health
The recent decision by Calgary’s city council to defer the future of the supervised consumption site (SCS) in the Beltline to the Alberta provincial government is a missed opportunity to advocate for community members—one that risks leaving vulnerable individuals without the necessary support structures in place.
SCSs are a critical harm-reduction tool in the ongoing battle against substance use disorders. These sites provide a safe environment where individuals can use drugs under the supervision of trained healthcare professionals. Individuals can also access a suite of health and social services during their visit, including social work and testing for infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C. The goal is to reduce the immediate risk of overdose and death, while also providing opportunities for engagement with treatment and other support services. Calgary’s Sheldon Chumir Centre, which houses the city’s only SCS, has saved countless lives since its opening in 2017.
Beyond their immediate life-saving impact, these sites are a key part of a broader public health strategy aimed at mitigating the social, economic, and health burdens associated with substance use. Without them, we would see higher rates of overdose deaths, more pressure on emergency services, and a continued stigmatization of people who use drugs. Medical literature consistently supports the efficacy of SCSs in reducing harm and improving overall health outcomes for individuals who use substances. Recent research from Toronto suggests that in neighbourhoods where SCSs were implemented, drug mortality decreased significantly.
The decision to pass the buck on to the provincial government for the future of the SCS is a troubling retreat from the city’s responsibility to protect public health. While it is true that healthcare is primarily a provincial responsibility, municipal governments have a crucial role to play in supporting public health interventions at the local level. The argument that the city should leave decisions about health services to the province ignores these sites' significant impact on the local community. City councils are entrusted with the well-being of their residents, and decisions that affect public health, safety, and social order should be made collaboratively across all levels of government. In fact, several municipalities in Canada and beyond, including Vancouver and Santa Fe, have implemented strategies to address substance use-related harms and support the health of community members. Municipalities often have a stronger understanding of their communities' specific needs, which can be overlooked when broad, province-wide decisions are made about services.
The issue at hand is not just whether to keep the SCS open or closed, but how we as a society choose to address the broader crisis of substance use and drug poisoning. By deferring the decision to the provincial government, Calgary risks perpetuating a fragmented and reactive approach to a crisis that requires a coordinated, proactive response which extends beyond municipal and partisan boundaries. Substance use and addiction do not respect municipal boundaries; the problem is provincial and national in scope, and solutions must be as well.
Moreover, the decision to defer responsibility to the province undermines the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to tackling this complex issue. Substance use is not simply a health problem; it is deeply entwined with social, economic, and cultural factors. A proper solution requires a cross-sectoral response from all levels of government, including individuals who have lived experience with substance use. By handing off responsibility, Calgary’s city council is stepping away from a role it could play in facilitating a more integrated response that includes health services, mental health care, housing, and community-based programs.
As medical and public health students, we are acutely aware of the challenges we face in delivering healthcare in an often siloed and underfunded system. But we cannot afford to ignore the urgent needs of marginalized communities, especially those affected by addiction. The SCS in Calgary represents not only a medical intervention but a commitment to treating individuals with dignity and respect. It is about providing people with the tools they need to survive, heal, and ultimately reintegrate into society.
The decision to defer responsibility is a missed opportunity to demonstrate leadership in public health, and it undermines efforts to create a more just and compassionate society. It is not enough to simply say that the issue belongs to another level of government. Local politicians have a duty to stand up for public health initiatives that serve their communities, even if that means engaging in difficult conversations and advocating for policies that challenge the status quo. We must move beyond politics and rhetoric and take meaningful action to address the toxic drug crisis—because in the end, lives are at stake.
The decision to defer the question of whether to close Calgary's SCS is a moment of lost potential. The city council’s hesitation to take a clear stance on the site’s future reflects a broader lack of political will to address the toxic drug crisis head-on. By passing responsibility to the provincial government, Calgary risks abandoning its most vulnerable residents and missing the opportunity to be a leader in evidence-based, compassionate healthcare. As medical professionals, policymakers, and citizens, we must work together to ensure that harm-reduction services like SCSs are not just preserved but integrated into a more comprehensive strategy to address the systemic issues surrounding substance use. Citizens, healthcare workers and policymakers alike should ensure that elected officials are held accountable to advocating for healthcare resources, particularly for those who are most marginalized.
William Rioux: University of Alberta (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry), Alberta Medical Association Student Advocacy Committee and Canadian Students For Sensible Drug Policy
Holly Mathias: University of Alberta (School of Public Health) and Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy