The number of supervised consumption sites in Edmonton is set to be cut in half as the United Conservative Party government moves to close another critical facility. Following the 2021 shutdown of the site at Boyle Street Community Services, the UCP now intends to close the unique facility located at the Royal Alexandra Hospital before Christmas.
A Controversial Decision at the Worst Possible Time
Originally opened by the former NDP government in 2018, the Royal Alexandra Hospital site was groundbreaking—it was the first acute care hospital in North America to operate such a facility. Unlike other consumption sites, this one had a unique directive to cater specifically to patients already staying at the hospital rather than serving the general public.
The UCP government is defending its decision using familiar ideological arguments. "Hospitals are places of healing and services provided in hospital settings should support treatment, recovery and wellness — not perpetuate addiction," the province stated in an emailed response.
Why Hospital-Based Consumption Sites Matter
What the government appears to have forgotten, or is practicing selective amnesia about, is the crucial reason this facility was established in the first place. Contrary to government claims, hospitals can be dangerous environments for people with substance-use disorders.
Before the supervised consumption site opened, Royal Alexandra Hospital staff reported that patients would frequently leave hospital grounds in vulnerable states to use drugs. Others would remain in the building but seek out hazardous locations like bathrooms, stairwells, closets, and parkades—any semi-private space they could find—often because they feared judgment and punishment from medical staff.
This meant patients were frequently using substances alone, significantly decreasing their chances of survival during a drug-poisoning event. The supervised consumption site provided a safe, monitored environment that prevented these dangerous scenarios.
A Questionable Replacement Plan
The government claims the closure will be mitigated by establishing two new services, including a recovery response team that will work with security staff to monitor hospital grounds, respond to drug poisonings as they occur, and direct people toward recovery services.
However, critics argue this approach represents a step backward that fails to provide the same level of safety and accessibility. The timing is particularly concerning given Edmonton's ongoing struggles with toxic drug supplies and rising overdose deaths.
The closure of the Royal Alexandra Hospital consumption site marks the second major reduction in Edmonton's harm reduction services under the UCP government, leaving the city with only half the supervised consumption capacity it once had during an escalating public health crisis.
