Former chief coroner of British Columbia, Lisa Lapointe, expressed disappointment with the province’s recent changes to its program offering prescription alternatives to dangerous street drugs. Lapointe criticized the shift to a “witnessed-only” model, where individuals must consume their prescription drugs under supervision and are not allowed to take them home, as she believes it disregards scientific evidence. Lapointe emphasized the importance of providing a regulated supply of drugs to keep individuals safe and reduce reliance on the illicit market.
The decision to implement the witnessed consumption approach was announced by Health Minister Josie Osborne to prevent the diversion of take-home prescription opioids into the street. This move comes after concerns raised by leaked Health Ministry briefings indicating a significant portion of prescribed opioids in the province were being diverted. The opposition leader, John Rustad, viewed this policy change as a victory for his party, criticizing the NDP government for altering its safe supply policy.
Lapointe questioned the rationale behind the overhaul, urging officials to share the evidence supporting the witnessed-consumption-only strategy. She raised concerns about the potential impact on individuals requiring multiple doses per day, stating that the new policy could restrict access to prescription alternatives and create burdens for those in need.
DJ Larkin, executive director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, echoed Lapointe’s sentiments, emphasizing the challenges individuals may face in accessing prescription alternatives under the new model. Larkin criticized the policy shift, suggesting it was influenced more by politics than evidence-based decision-making.
Leslie McBain from Moms Stop the Harm expressed surprise at the sudden change, highlighting the potential negative consequences for individuals who had stabilized their lives through the program. McBain feared that the new requirements could drive individuals back to the black market, resulting in more toxic overdoses and fatalities.
The revised policy aligns with recommendations from Addiction Medicine Canada, advocating for a supervised consumption model to address concerns of inappropriate use of prescribed opiates. Dr. Robert Cooper, a member of the group, emphasized the need for such a shift based on reports of misuse and diversion of prescription drugs leading to potential harm.
Critics like Dr. Ryan Herriot and Angie Gaddy from the B.C. Pharmacy Association raised concerns about the politicization of healthcare and the potential impact on individuals with substance-use disorders. They emphasized the need for evidence-based approaches and comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to drug diversion and misuse.
With over 16,000 deaths in British Columbia since the declaration of the toxic drug crisis as a public health emergency in April 2016, the province continues to grapple with the challenges of substance abuse and the need for effective harm reduction strategies.