Health care worker supports pop-up overdose prevention site in Calgary

CALGARY, AB. — Organizers of a pop-up overdose prevention site in downtown Calgary say it and other supports are desperately needed as Alberta faces a skyrocketing number of deaths.

Yesterday, harm reduction supplies and food were available at the site for people out in frigid temperatures.

An anesthesiologist cast a watchful eye on one woman who injected a prescribed opioid into her arm.

Dr. Bonnie Larson, one of the health-care workers involved in the outreach effort, says there are fears that the unsanctioned site could get the group into trouble, but adds it’s worth the risk.