City of Lethbridge to propose becoming prototype for provincial drug strategy

Jul 10, 2019 | 1:36 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Mayor Chris Spearman is set to speak with officials from Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions in a closed meeting Wednesday.

The topic of discussion will center around the ongoing drug crisis in Lethbridge and coming up with possible solutions.

Spearman tells Lethbridge News Now that the provincial government wants to “demonstrate through leadership” and that he has an idea in mind for what to do about it.

“We think there should be a provincial drug strategy that looks at community needs like the City of Lethbridge. What’s the size of the issue? What resources are available to address the issue? That will vary from community to community.”

He says that while Calgary and Edmonton have by far the most resources to deal with mental health, addictions, and other concerns relating to drug use, they are certainly not the only Albertan communities that need to do something about it.

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Spearman says Lethbridge has “one of the more serious drug problems” in Alberta, so he will be proposing that Lethbridge becomes a prototype for a hypothetical provincial drug strategy. Successful ideas could then be implemented elsewhere.

“I think we need to talk as a community and we all have to say the community of Lethbridge needs help with the drug issues. These are health issues and money needs to be invested in our city, the money we’ve been asking for for the last four or five years.”

The mayor believes this should start with “alternative programs” that focus on moving drug users off the cycle of addiction and into recovery so they can become productive members of society.

Also, Lethbridge News Now talked to Spearman about $11.2-million in funding for a new rehabilitative housing project now being “under review” after previously being announced. More details here.

by David Opinko