SPECIAL REPORT
A look at how the opioid crisis is affecting Lethbridge
It’s divided a community. It’s divided city council. And only one thing is certain: this isn’t the Lethbridge of a 1950s-era postcard.
The Opioid Crisis in Lethbridge has everyone talking, from those in coffee shops, to business owners, to council chambers, and everywhere in between.
“What do we do about the needles?” and “Let’s clean up the needles” seem to be two of the more popular phrases. Unfortunately, not all commentary is fully versed or educated on the topic on why they exist in the first place.
These opioid addiction problems and discarded needle issues were not created overnight — or even last month.
As the city of Lethbridge has progressively grown at around two per cent annually for several years, it is on the cusp of hitting the 100,000 mark for population.
But city growth can be both positive and negative. For every next 1,000 or 2,000 people, not all are going to be entrepreneurs producing results into the local economy.
Crime and drug issues will continue to increase as the population climbs. The Opioid Crisis has also just hit during this process.
It is clear that the public is upset about the needle issue. The supervised consumption site, meanwhile, has people dug in on their side and opinion of either: 1) “support of harm reduction strategies” or, 2) “all it does is enable addicts.”
This is where The Herald is attempting to help. We are here to report accurate information on all sides of this ongoing series of issues and on the Opioid Crisis, as we have for several years.
In this special eight-page report, we have gathered stories and photos from our coverage on the Opioid Crisis to assist in providing an overview of this situation in southern Alberta.
This is not all new information, but rather an intent to use our platform to show an evolution of a crisis from all aspects.
Inside these eight pages, you’ll see timelines of key events, read about the Executive Leaders Coalition on Opioid Use, city council, ARCHES, Alberta Health Services, needle debris, cleanup efforts, the effects on businesses and families, the Blood Reserve’s crisis, a background on Fentanyl and Carfentanil, future steps announced by organizations, police and LFD responses, and a recap of what is actually done at the supervised consumption site in Lethbridge.
The Opioid Crisis is an unprecedented situation. From 2011 to 2016, the number of fentanyl-related deaths in Alberta increased by 6,000 per cent.
And there is so much information — or Too Much Information (TMI) to use the Internet generation term — as well as misinformation, amplified by perception and the prevalence of social media.
The easy answer to the Opioid Crisis is: there is not one. That’s what’s causing emotional reactions and varied opinions.
And this situation probably will get worse before it gets better. So, we at The Herald urge you to please read this section with an open mind and at least try to become familiarized with the many issues and efforts that make up the Opioid Crisis in Lethbridge.
Solutions will only come from knowledge and education.