B.C. is completing its transition to witnessed dosing for prescribed alternatives, often called ‘safer supply’ drugs, as of Dec. 30.
The province intitially announced the change in February, but it was only implemented for people newly added to the program.
Initially, patients who already had prescriptions could keep taking them at home, but as of the end of this month, they will need to do so in the presence of a health professional, according to an announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
There will be “limited exceptions” to this rule.
The prescribed alternatives program provides hydromorphone doses to people addicted to opioids so they can avoid using toxic street drugs.
This program came under fire after evidence surfaced that some of these drugs were allegedly being diverted to the illegal market and that some pharmacists were allegedly offering incentives to have patients sent to their shops.
Health Minister Josie Osborne defended the program in general on Monday.
“I’ll just say prescribed alternatives remain one of many tools and strategies that we use to help separate people from a toxic drug supply, to help keep them alive, to access care,” she said.
Osborne is scheduled to speak about the changes at 1:15. This story will be updated after her remarks.
More to come.