pauly argues that access to safer supply without prescription is needed, as those without a substance-use disorder diagnosis but accessing the illicit market remain at high risk of overdose.
as for prescribers who want to be part of the program, there’s not a lot of support by way of education, training or infrastructure, she said.
in july 2020, the canadian association of chiefs of police expressed support for evidence-based medical treatment that included safe supply.
victoria police staff sgt. connor king said that based on his experience, dilaudid is not the drug most people want and so the pills “are indeed being sold illegally.”
but various prescription drugs have been sold on the streets for decades, said king, a court-certified expert witness on the trafficking of fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, cocaine, and methamphetamine. “there has always been dilaudid and oxycodone and other powerful opioids in the teen environment in high school and university campuses.”
in addition, king said, “when i look at the coroner data, we’re not seeing a link between safer-supply drugs and lethal overdoses.”
king called diversion of safe supply a “small piece” of an “enormous picture,” as illicit drugs flow into b.c. via organized crime. fentanyl coming into the province is highly toxic and deadly, and methamphetamines manufactured in mexico and shipped or smuggled across the u.s.-canada border are plentiful, powerful and cheap, he said.