HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH STUDY • Are you between the ages of 12 and 25? In good health? OR • Have a parent or sibling with depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis? Contribute to research that may help young people with mental health concerns in the future.
403.210.8740 or napls@ucalgary.ca This study has been approved by the Conjoint Health Research Ethics board Ethics ID: REB14-1710
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‘It is the disaster we don’t want to talk about’
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Kelly Fedorowich wants to be the fastest woman in Canada, and is hoping her top fuel dragster will take her from zero to 300 even faster. AUTUMN FOX/FOR METRO
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All options on table for city injection sites DRUGS
Fixed locations and mobile units being considered Elizabeth Cameron
For Metro | Calgary
The need for real speed
Meet the Calgarian who’s revving up for a land-speed record metroNEWS
When it comes to Calgary’s future supervised consumption sites, nothing is off the table. The Calgary Coalition on Supervised Consumption (CCSC) is currently in the middle of a needs-based assessment to determine exactly where and what the sites should be. Leslie Hill, the executive director at HIV Community Link who sits on the CCSC, said they’re exploring all options, including fixed locations and mobile units. She said the sites are proven to decrease the rates of death,
sexually transmitted infections and blood-bourne diseases. Staff at the sites will be able to connect users with opioid replacement therapy, detox facilities, mental health supports and more. “The public health responsibility is to help (those with addiction) minimize the impact of their use and support them,” Hill said. She added public education is critical to mitigate fears about the sites because the myth that the sites increase drug use or crime rates simply isn’t true. “If this was any other service, it wouldn’t even be a question,” Hill said. “They’re a treatment people shouldn’t be denied.” Mike Ellis, MLA for CalgaryWest, said his constituents have expressed they want to help those struggling with addiction, but said wrap-around supports that link users to longterm care options are essential to getting a stamp of approval from Albertans.