Lethbridge Drug Consumption unit to close in June

The Alberta government announced Friday that drug consumption sites in southern Alberta will soon close and be replaced with recovery support, treatment and 24/7 outreach efforts. This includes the mobile drug consumption unit by the Lethbridge Shelter and the supervised site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary.

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, says that provincial investments of tackling addiction and opioid overdose incidents are paying off, with Alberta experiencing a 39 percent decrease in overdose deaths since 2023.

Ellis adds, “Drug consumption sites do not help people recover from addiction. Alberta is replacing them with services that connect people directly to treatment, stabilization and long-term recovery. This is about helping people heal, restoring safety in our communities and making sure more Albertans get the care they need to rebuild their lives.”

The two consumption sites will close on June 30^th of this year. Only three consumption sites will remain in the province, with two in Edmonton and one in Grand Prairie.