The Opioid Crisis and Safer Supply Strategies

The Government of British Columbia is overhauling its safer supply drug policy so that drug users will have to take their prescription opioids under the supervision of a pharmacist or health provider.

The change comes after public outcry over mounting evidence of “diversion”, the practice of selling or trading government-provided drugs on the black market.

This is the latest move from the David Eby government to backtrack on its drug policies, which have come under heavy scrutiny and political attack as overdose deaths continue to increase.

Host David Smith speaks with Simon Fraser University addictions expert, Dr. Julian Somers, about what B.C. got wrong and whether safer supply programs have a future in Canada.

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