Despite 5 years of the 'Alberta Model,' drug deaths have never been higher. Thanks to @CBC's @ianhanomansing for illustrating the human cost of a myopic focus on treatment at the expense of a comprehensive public health response. #ableg #cdnpoli

Access to virtual opioid treatment is a win, but the number of unique ppl dispensed these medications is low for a province our size. No one has access to safer supply programs, even though data from BC show they may lower mortality risk.

The Alberta government has finally released complete data on 2021 drug poisoning deaths. The numbers are bleak. 1758 people dead last year. In November and December we had the highest monthly totals *ever recorded;* 176 people lost in each month. 🧵 #ableg Edmonton was very hard hit in 2021. Looking at the numbers it is reasonable to ask whether the closure of the Boyle Street SCS--the city's busiest supervised consumption service--in April 2021 wasn't an important factor driving these deaths. #yeg

The Alberta government is permanently closing #yeg's @boylestreet supervised consumption service (SCS) at a time when more people than ever are dying of overdose. This closure will result in a 35% drop in #yeg's current SCS capacity (booths). #ableg edmontonjournal.com/news/local-new… For background, 3 small SCS were set up in central #yeg in 2018. Instead of opening 1 large SCS, the required capacity was spread across 3 health and social services (a primary clinic, overnight shelter, and a day drop-in) where people who use drugs were already going for help.

Yesterday, Alberta's premier announced 904 opioid overdose deaths from Jan. to Oct. 2020 (66% increase in the death rate y/y). He attributed this increase to CERB and reduced treatment access. I tweeted already about why it is not CERB, today let's look at treatment. #ableg According to the Premier: “As part of our initial series of restrictions...the gov't suspended the operation of residential treatment centres and reduced the number of people who could stay within them and also suspended the operation of opioid dependency clinics."

Overdose deaths were increasing in March before people could even apply for CERB payments. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes has reported that border closures are disrupting illegal drug supplies, leading to a more dangerous and volatile market. Toxiciology data from the BC Coroner's office during COVID-19 shows that people are dying with higher than average fentanyl concentrations in their bloodstream.

Since 2017 Alberta heavily invested in new *treatment, prevention AND harm reduction* programs. Now in 2019, OD deaths are steadily declining. Cutting effective interventions could undo this progress and put more lives at risk [thread] globalnews.ca/news/6443265/a… Between 2015 and 2019 the # of Albertans engaged in (gold standard) medication treatments for opioid use disorder grew from ~4200 to ~11,000; and AHS added 4000 new treatment spaces across the province. open.alberta.ca/dataset/f4b74c…

Our new qualitative research study examining acute care patient perspectives on a novel addiction medicine consultation team is now available for download [free access until November 7, 2019]. authors.elsevier.com/a/1ZlT81LiD2-f… Patients felt the team improved their care experience overall, and that a harm reduction orientation to care--emphasizing non-judgement, compassion, autonomy, and shared decision-making--was critical.