Alberta man sues province over closing of only supervised consumption site in Red Deer

A Red Deer man living with substance use disorder has filed a legal action against the Alberta government for its plan to close the city’s only supervised drug-use site next year, a move he says violates his Charter-protected rights and will put his life at risk.Aaron Brown, 40, said he started using fentanyl and crystal meth in 2017 after losing his job and custody of his children. His life quickly spiralled and he ended up living on the streets of Red Deer and stealing to pay for drugs. He said, in a sworn affidavit, that he overdosed more times than he can count and was frequently hospitalized or jailed. He also acquired Hepatitis C.He said his life changed when the Red Deer Overdose Prevention Site, which provides a hygienic space for people to use drugs under medical supervision, opened in 2018. Staff have provided life-saving support to Mr. Brown and, over time, have helped him decrease the frequency of his drug use. He has also secured permanent housing and other social supports.