By the end of June, the United Conservative Party government plans to close all safe consumption sites across Alberta.

These sites are not just services they are lifelines.

Across Canada, the overdose crisis continues to claim thousands of lives each year. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, more than 40,000 people have died from opioid toxicity since 2016. In Alberta, opioid-related deaths remain a serious and ongoing public health crisis, with hundreds of lives lost each year.

Supervised consumption sites are evidence-based healthcare interventions. Research shows they:

Prevent overdose deaths through immediate medical intervention
Reduce the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C
Connect individuals to addiction treatment, mental health services, and social supports

For many individuals experiencing homelessness or substance use challenges, these sites are often the only point of access to healthcare.

Closing these sites will not stop substance use. Instead, it will push people into unsafe, hidden environments where overdoses are more likely to be fatal and where help is not available.

This decision will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including unhoused individuals and those already facing barriers to healthcare access. It raises serious concerns about health equity, public safety, and the ethical responsibility to protect human life.

As a healthcare student, I am taught to practice evidence-informed care, advocate for vulnerable populations, and prioritize patient safety. The closure of safe consumption sites directly contradicts these principles.

We are calling on the Government of Alberta to:

Immediately pause the closure of all safe consumption sites
Ensure continued access to harm reduction services across the province
Invest in evidence-based addiction treatment, mental health care, and housing supports

Harm reduction is not about enabling substance use it is about saving lives, reducing harm, and creating pathways to recovery.

Every life has value. Every person deserves access to safe, dignified, and compassionate care.