Community members, local brewery campaign to support Supervised Consumption Site and needle distribution

However, it has come to our attention, that this neighbour doesn’t get a lot of support in return. We get it, what they do is a little…abnormal…for this City. They deal in customer support services that most of the rest of us don’t even want to think about. Their clients are generally individuals most of us don’t interact with on a regular basis. The average Lethbian has likely never set foot inside the premises. But, that doesn’t make what they do any less important, regardless of how small (it isn’t that small!) of a part of the population they serve. In fact, it makes what they do all the more necessary.

So, we want to encourage you to send some love out to this neighbour of ours. Support them any way you can. We know that you can do it! Lethbridge is a community that prides itself on home-grown initiatives, bootstrapping entrepreneurs, and family-values. We are a community where everyone seems to know everyone, where you can walk down the street and get a smile. So I encourage you: send a little love their way.

We are talking, of course, about the Safe Consumption Site here in the Upper Eastside. We know, it’s a contentious issue. It’s a little scary. Certainly it is unlike anything we have seen in this City before. But, whether you agree with everything they do or not, the hard facts are that they save lives, and they help people, and each and every person working there has a heart of gold. Some folk in this city have chosen to make their job even more difficult, but that’s not the city we know and love. We know we can do better, and we can help make this place beautiful and safe for everyone. But it takes a little effort from everyone.

That effort is actually really simple: you can do it by email. Today we are asking you to email City Council in support of the Safe Consumption Site and the clean needle program. We know, you’re tired of finding needles near your homes, near your offices, in your parks, and on your streets. We get that. But appreciate also that SCS volunteers spend hundreds of hours each week patrolling the city, picking up discarded debris. They are working hard to keep the city clean. You can help them by letting them know about problem areas. They will get to you! They will make sure it is clean. Because they are awesome like that.

We are in the middle of an opioid epidemic that is unprecedented in human history. Restricting the Safe Consumption Site from performing necessary activities isn’t going to get us ahead. In fact, it will put us further behind. As a community, we have to learn to support each other. Let’s start by helping the SCS achieve their goals.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for your support. Thank you for being our friends.”

An online citizen’s campaign also posted on social media, is also requesting members of the community email or contact Lethbridge City Hall to oppose the potential introduction of a city bylaw to possibly restrict or ban the distribution of needles outside of the Supervised Consumption Site is also circulating.

On her Facebook page, Kristina Dianne shows links to a template, which states, in full:

“Please contact City Council to support people with addictions through needle distribution in Lethbridge. Feel free to copy the form letter below or use the following points to support your own correspondence.

Email : council@lethbridge.ca ; mayor@lethbridge.ca

Dear Mayor & City Council,

I oppose the motion that would ban the distribution of needles as a harm reduction practice in Lethbridge.

Needle distribution is a medically recognized best practice and an evidence-based way to promote safety. Needle distribution programs reduce harm for individuals and the community. Research shows minimal risk to the broader community, including to children, from needle debris, compared to the risk of transferable diseases to individuals reusing needles. Research also shows large economic savings in community and health costs if a needle distribution program is available.

Lack of access to needle distribution will increase the likelihood that individuals will reuse needles, which will in turn cause increases in the rates of communicable diseases like HIV and Hepatitis in our community. Increased infection rates will mean that needle debris is more likely to carry disease. Further, without a safe needle exchange, IV drug users are more likely to improperly discard their needles leading to higher amounts of debris in the community. Needle exchange programs reduce all of these social impacts of IV drug use.

A ban on needle distribution will most certainly cost lives, increase our economic and health costs, and exacerbate all of the issues it is meant to address.

Please vote against this motion and continue the work to support our community with research and evidence-based best practices that will serve our most vulnerable community members and improve the health and economy of our broader community in this opioid crisis.

Thank you,

NAME

FULL ADDRESS (Optional, but improves impact of letter)”

Over the last several months, a movement to encourage either a ban on needle distribution for illicit drug use has gained momentum, which culminated with a protest and petition signing in front of Lethbridge City Hall several weeks ago.

As a goodwill gesture, executives at the SCS later said their Walking Outreach Teams would cease distributing needles, pipes, cookers, alcohol swabs, tourniquets and other illicit drug-related equipment.

The City of Lethbridge has also increased funding for its Downtown Clean-Sweep program by $150,000.

However, over the last week, many businesses located near the SCS have also said they’re fed up with activities of addicts and users around the Supervised Consumption Site, telling LNN they pick up needles and condoms regularly; they also find people sleeping, having sex, defacating, urinating, dealing drugs, and stealing merchandise from their businesses.

Several also told LNN they fear for their safety, some staff have quit their jobs, and some owners may have to close their doors if conditions don’t improve.

Advocates of the SCS say the harm reduction methods used prevent not only the spread of disease, but also save lives and give users access to much needed counselling, addiction treatment options and a variety of other services.

by Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Community members, local brewery campaign to support Supervised Consumption Site and needle distribution

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