Public consultation to determine the fate of Alberta supervised consumption sites [Video]

Since the doors first opened in 2017, the supervised consumption site in Calgary has been a source of division for those in the Beltline neighbourhood.

Lauren Makaryk has been living in the Beltline for three years. She supports supervised consumption sites in Calgary, saying they’re necessary.

“There’s a bad taste in a lot of folks’ mouths regarding safe consumption sites,” said Makaryk. “People say it’s legalizing drug use, and really encouraging its ongoing prevalence in the city. It’s not; people are going to use anyways.”

Part of what shaped the way Makaryk feels is based on the the fact that she used to use drugs herself, and it took losing those she loved to find the strength to get clean.

“I stopped counting after 60,” Makaryk explained. “Both close friends, recreational users and hardcore addicts… that was enough.”

Her best friend was the first. Makaryk explained that even after testing …