Opinion: Lakeview Recovery Community—A Dangerous Precipice

The newly opened Lakeview Recovery Community is Alberta's latest venture into addiction recovery, showcasing the province's Alberta Recovery Model. While the facility is still in its infancy and has not yet failed, the model’s current trajectory is a cause for concern. As someone deeply involved in advocating for the safety of healthcare workers, I see alarming parallels between Lakeview and the fictional town of Kingstown from the crime drama Mayor of Kingstown.

In Kingstown, power and profit drive decisions, often at the expense of those on the front lines—law enforcement, prison guards, and others who navigate the treacherous landscape daily. Similarly, Lakeview’s focus on abstinence-based, privatized care prioritizes financial efficiency over the critical need for comprehensive safety protocols. This model puts healthcare workers at Lakeview in a perilous position, much like the guards and officers in Kingstown, who operate in an environment where their safety is constantly compromised.

Historically, workplace violence against healthcare workers is a prevalent and growing issue. A systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology found that 47% of healthcare workers globally have experienced some form of violence, with 68% of physicians reporting incidents. However, these statistics are likely underreported, much like the incidents in Kingstown. The "Broken Windows" theory, as cited in the FROST white paper, illustrates how tolerance of minor infractions can lead to more severe issues being overlooked or normalized, further contributing to an unsafe environment. This violence is not just a physical threat; it also has significant psychological consequences, contributing to burnout, stress, and decreased quality of care. The Alberta Recovery Model’s current lack of robust safety measures could easily allow Lakeview to fall into these same patterns of neglect, where the safety of staff is an afterthought.

The Alberta Recovery Model is a recipe for disaster waiting to unfold. Without the necessary safety measures in place, healthcare workers at Lakeview are exposed to significant risks, navigating volatile situations without the proper tools or support. This is not just speculation—it’s a stark reality that echoes the dynamics seen in Kingstown, where profit-driven policies lead to inevitable tragedy.

Lakeview may be new, but the warning signs are clear. The province must act now to reinforce its recovery model with robust safety measures that prioritize the well-being of its staff. The cost of inaction is too high—Alberta risks turning Lakeview into its own version of Kingstown, where the pursuit of profit overshadows the need for humanity and safety.

As an advocate for healthcare worker safety, I urge Alberta’s leaders to take a hard look at the risks they are courting. The time to act is now, before Lakeview becomes another cautionary tale of what happens when safety is sacrificed on the altar of efficiency. The stakes are too high to ignore, and the consequences of inaction are all too real.

Adam Kuzik (LLB, LLM 2025) is a legal professional with a strong focus on healthcare policy and workplace safety. He leverages his expertise to advocate for secure and supportive environments, particularly in high-risk sectors like healthcare. Adam's work is centered on ensuring that policies and models, whether in law or healthcare, are not only effective but also uphold the highest standards of safety and ethical responsibility for all involved. His approach is informed by a deep commitment to justice and the well-being of frontline workers.