Alberta’s supervised consumption sites saved lives and money, new research suggests

Newly published research from the University of Calgary shows that the province’s harm-reduction program doesn’t just provide needed services for people who use drugs, but it saves money and frees up health care workers’ time as well.

“Even if you never go near a supervised consumption site in your life, you could be seen faster in hospital,” said Dr. Jennifer Jackson, Ph.D., a registered nurse and an assistant professor at the University of Calgary’s faculty of nursing.

“When we can provide care in the community for anyone, that’s a good thing. What we found in our study is that the nurses at the supervised consumption sites are preventing 700 people per year from going to the hospital.”

WATCH: CityNews’ Jillian Code reports on new research suggesting supervised consumption sites save more than lives

Jackson said around 700 people per year equals roughly two fewer patients per day who aren’t using paramedic or hospital services and it’s a decrease that makes a difference for health care workers.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t see articles about a strained and overworked health care workforce, this matters,” she said.

Statistics showed 1,758 Albertans died from drug overdoses in 2021, an average of just under five deaths per day. Jackson said their research shows supervised consumption sites also provided a sense of community for struggling Albertans.

---

READ MORE:

• Expert outlines common scams and how to protect yourself

• Alberta’s National Immunization Week advocates for vaccine awareness

• Alberta increases funding for more cataract surgeries in private facilities

  ---

“About 10 per cent of the people in our study who went to the supervised consumption sites were not there to use drugs, they were there for other reasons. Maybe they were there to get food, or have access to primary care (or) find out where they could see a doctor,” Jackson said.

“Maybe they were there to get a referral for a detox facility.”

By allowing people access to supervised consumption sites, the research found approximately $1,600 is saved for each overdose that is prevented. Jackson said sites like these would save money and lives in municipalities of all sizes.

“Alberta is such an industrious place and there’s so much entrepreneurship here,” she said.

“We can apply those same types of ideas to the social challenge of addiction.”