Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jason Luan is applauding the efforts of the front line workers in Grande Prairie, as the province continues to come to grips with an ongoing opioid overdose crisis.
Luan, who has been vocally against the reliance on safe consumption sites as the solution to tackling the ongoing opioid addiction crisis in the province, said he was indeed impressed when visiting the SCS in Grande Prairie on Thursday.
“The operators there certainly demonstrated to me they not only have the best interest of people who need to access, but they also care about the whole community. They work with everybody and believe the solution is within the community,” he added.
Joined by Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard, Luan also took the opportunity to visit the Alberta Health Services Northern Addiction Centre, as well as discuss potential options with several stakeholders in the city, as well as several members of the city council.
The associate minister said he remains open to discussion at all levels to try and find a solution which will help fit the needs of those who need it most.
“We need a collaborative approach, and to develop a system of care which has a number of different services lined for the purpose of helping people when they are ready, to get into a constructive and different kind of lifestyle.”
According to a recently released Q1 2019 report released by Alberta Health, 11 people have died in the city so far this year due to accidental fentanyl-related overdoses.