Alberta

Banff harm reduction pilot provides free fentanyl tests across the Bow Valley in effort to quell opioid crisis. Katy Anderson · CBC News · Posted: Jan 07, ...

"The people that use those spaces come from every background, every experience," she said. Opened in 2020, it has since expanded to CPL's Shawnessy and Crowfoot locations, in response to what the library saw as a growing need for supports. And with more than 340,000 square feet of public space, the CPL is well-positioned to do just that. As far as I'm concerned people are going to be cycling anyway." "I'm handing out helmets, but I'm not telling people to get on a bike. Those who were not already going to do drugs will suddenly decide to opt in if testing kits become available, he says. Arsenio said there are multiple outcomes that he's using to measure success, including changing attitudes. In addition, Banff has an earned reputation for a place people go to enjoy themselves, he says. According to data from the time period that has so far been [released by the province](https://healthanalytics.alberta.ca/SASVisualAnalytics/?reportUri=%2Freports%2Freports%2F1bbb695d-14b1-4346-b66e-d401a40f53e6§ionIndex=0&sso_guest=true&reportViewOnly=true&reportContextBar=false&sas-welcome=false), there were 976 drug poisoning deaths from January to August 2022, compared to 969 in the same period the year before. Not everyone, however, is on board with the approach. "In this case, it's 'am I going to be safe tonight? Arsenio would ride his bike around town playing music, during which he'd help revellers find cabs, comfort those who "seemed to be having a bad time" and check in on peer groups he knew were using substances.