these programs, which are sanctioned by the federal government, distribute free addictive drugs — predominantly eight-mg tablets of hydromorphone — to mitigate the use of riskier street substances. while advocates claim that this “saves lives,” a series of stories in the national post has shown that safer supply clients often divert (sell or trade) their hydromorphone to acquire stronger illicit substances , which floods communities with the drug and fuels new addictions .
harm reduction advocates, including leading figures within the trudeau government, have insisted that reports of rampant safer supply diversion are “disinformation” — but police departments are increasingly contradicting them.
shortly after the post published this data in early july, london police chief thai truong told a press conference that safer supply diversion is a serious concern that is “fuelling the drug trade” and involving “the highest levels of organized crime.” (london is where safer supply was first piloted in canada and the city remains a national hub for the experiment.)
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while the deputy chief believes that safer supply makes sense in theory, he said the skyrocketing hydromorphone seizures are “obviously concerning” and mused: “is this posing a bigger risk, or is it still a benefit so that we continue doing this?” he later noted that the “biggest thing” that he sees missing in ontario is adequate funding for treatment centres , which has led to long, potentially fatal, wait times for drug users who want help quitting.
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