Lethbridge, Red Deer facing changes with drug consumption sites

The Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) is scheduled to shut down in June due to the Alberta government moving towards a recovery-oriented approach. The Alberta government has justified the change by citing a study on the Red Deer OPS's closure that was published in Addiction on March 10, which found no increase in overdose deaths or ambulance calls and showed more users sought treatment afterward. Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said the closure aligns with the Alberta government's recovery focus. Red Deer Dream Centre Executive Director Darryl Wilkie felt the study validated moving towards long-term plans. Rogers tv producer Jonathan Bradley has the story.