Community Drug Strategy

In recent years, Lethbridge has been negatively affected by escalating drug issues.

These effects include drug-related behaviour in or around the downtown area as well as increasing petty crime and discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia in public places.

At City Council's direction a number of strategies and programs have been initiated and implemented.

Related Work

Community Drug Strategy Phases

	Title	Accordion Answer
	Phase 3 - February 2019	The Community Issues Committee passed a resolution to receive the Community Led Drug Strategy as information and thanked the consultants, Robin Parsons, MBA, CPF, CTF and Dave Robertson, CPF, for their work in developing the strategy on March 25, 2019. The consultant's full report can be found here which includes a list of recommendations to proceed with should City Council bring them forward.
	Phase 2 - November 2018	This phase of consultations will identify desired responses to the drug crisis, any barriers to implementing those responses, and will produce the elements to create a draft community-based drug strategy. The What We Heard report will inform Phase 2 consultations which will involve a community strategy session in late November with up to 40 targeted stakeholders such as EMS, business people, social service providers, police, housing agencies, and harm reduction service providers.
	Phase 1 - October 2018	Four facilitated sessions were held Oct. 10 & 11 where stakeholders, business people and any other interested community members could discuss how the drug epidemic is affecting them and share ideas on constructive solutions to deal with the negative effects in the community. A total of 288 people participated. This phase of the consultation process produced a What We Heard report, which was presented to City Council Nov. 5. View the Nov. 5 presentation to City Council members
	July 9 Community Meeting	On July 9, 2018, City Council held a community meeting to learn about the drug crisis and needle debris in our community. A panel of health, addictions and harm reduction specialists were on hand to present information and answer questions from the public as well as City Council. Video of Community Meeting Frequently Asked Questions & Related Information from the July 9, 2018 Community Meeting View the specialists' presentations: Harm Reduction - Dr. Elaine Hyshka, Co-Chair of Ministers Opioid Emergency Response Commission Addictions, Prevention & Treatment - Trevor Inaba, Executive Director of Addiction & Mental Health, AHS South Zone Lethbridge Fire/EMS Response Data - Deputy Fire Chief Dana Terry Policing & Community Safety - Sgt. Robin Klassen, Lethbridge Police Service
	Background and Objectives	Seeking to bring people from all sides of this issue together to collaborate on solutions, City Council voted on Aug. 7, 2018 to hold a series of facilitated community sessions where any interested residents could share how the ongoing drug epidemic is affecting them and collaborate on potential solutions. Council also voted to establish a special committee to oversee the development of a community drug strategy. In mid-September, residents were invited to participate in four community consultations held over two days, on Oct. 10 and 11. These sessions are part of a broader consultation process, which includes three phases to be conducted over approximately 10 weeks aimed at achieving the following objectives: Provide opportunities for Lethbridge citizens to discuss their experiences and suggest solutions Define and agree upon challenges that can be addressed Identify community-based strategies to address these challenges Identify any gaps or barriers to implementing these strategies Recommend terms of reference that set out the mandate and scope of work for the ad hoc committee established by City Council
	Addiction and Mental Health Resources	Addictions Helpline: 1-866-332-2322 (available 24 hours a day) Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642 (available 24 hours a day) DrugSafe.ca Alberta Health Services Addiction and Substance Abuse in Alberta Opioid Dependency Program Stop Overdoses Health Canada Myths & Facts about Fentanyl Exposure Opioid Crisis in Canada
	Community Information	Safe Needle Disposal Guide: Keeping yourself, your loved ones & your community safe from the risk of discarded needles Safe Needle Disposal Tips (printable poster) Supervised Consumption Site (ARCHES): Learn more about the site, stats

Additional Information

Health Resources

Addictions Helpline:
1-866-332-2322
(available 24 hours a day)
Mental Health Helpline:
1-877-303-2642
(available 24 hours a day)
DrugSafe.ca
AHS Accidental Needle Stick Info
AHS Addiction and Mental Health:

Stop Overdoses
Health Canada: