Business owner in Lethbridge says safe consumption site negatively impacting the city
The impact of a supervised consumption site on nearby businesses within Lethbridge was almost immediate and has been significant, says the owner of Bert and Macs Sport.
The consumption site opened in February this year, and a smiliar one is expected to open in Medicine Hat before Christmas.
“It impacted approximately within a week,” said Peggy Charter-Pohl at Bert and Mac Sports, a 20-year business located across the road from the site in Lethbridge.
“Our first indication was coming into our building — there is only one entrance to our store which faces the consumption site, (and) there were five used needles in our vestibule.”
She says staff called three times before the needles were picked up, while customers stepped over them to enter the store, claiming “it has gotten progressively worse.”
The purpose of supervised or safe consumption is to provide a place where addicts have access to medical professionals in case of overdose, as well as providing them direct connection to available addictions services and counselling.
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman told the Medicine Hat News the Lethbridge site has saved 319 lives in the past six months by administering Naloxone, an overdose antidote for the deadly drug fentanyl.
Press secretary to Hoffman told the News that ARCHES (the organization operating the Lethbridge site) is receiving $1.6 million in operating funds for 2018-19 from Alberta Health and a total of $160,000 to address needle and substance-use debris.
The News requested an interview with the executive director of ARCHES on Friday and again on Tuesday. So far there has been no response.
Charter-Pohl says the demand exceeds the available space, and claimds some addicts are given supplies by ARCHES to use outside the site.
“So they go into the site and receive a package. The package includes a needle, tourniquet, alcohol swabs, a cup to cook the drugs in, a candle, and vitamin C which apparently aids the body’s absorption of the drug,” says Charter-Pohl.
The Lethbridge site is large, a former bar, but about two thirds of the space is offices, said Charter-Pohl. It is open 24 hours a day.
“In addition to flagrant drug use there is prostitution, and we’ve had to chase drug dealers right out of our parking lot in the middle of the day. They’re everywhere,” said Charter-Pohl.
After two months of complaints, ARCHES hired a security company that patrols three blocks.
Bert and Macs Sport has been in Lethbridge for almost 80 years.
Charter-Pohl has been with the company for the past 11.
“We don’t think we should have to move or be forced to move,” said Charter-Pohl. “We get absolutely no support whatsoever either from the City of Lethbridge or ARCHES, although they both say they’re working to address the issues.”
A Tim Hortons official spoke out about the possible negative impact on its Medicine Hat stores and other businesses downtown and on Maple Avenue where there is speculation the site will open.
HIV Community link, which has received funding to establish the site in Medicine Hat, has not yet confirmed a location.
“As an organization we are very concerned ... I am concerned about the safety of our staff and customers. We are also quite concerned about the negative impact this could have on our business and businesses nearby,” said Bryan De Jong, business manager at EIWM HOLDINGS that owns multiple Tim Hortons locations in Medicine Hat, including Maple Avenue and Third Street downtown.
John Layton, member of the Royal Canadian Legion and a former president, also expressed concerned about safety considering the proximity of its building to the speculated location.
HIV Community Link received $900,000 in startup funding from Alberta Health to establish a site in Medicine Hat. The group will also receive about $1.9 million annually for operating costs.