Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

BC Conservative Critics for Public Safety and Mental Health & Addictions call on government to implement doctor-recommended measures to stop diversion


Addiction Medicine Canada, a collective of over 30 addiction medicine clinicians from across the country, has written a letter to B.C.’s Minister of Health Josie Osborne with a set of guidelines on how to curb the diversion of opioids prescribed under “safe supply” programs.

Elenore Sturko (MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale and Critic for Public Safety) and Claire Rattée (MLA for Skeena and Critic for Mental Health & Addictions) call on the health minister to immediately commit to the recommendations of Addiction Medicine Canada and stop prescribed hydromorphone from getting into the hands of youth and gangs once and for all.

“We are mere days away from the U.S. government’s planned implementation of 25% tariffs on Canadian exports. Part of the reason for these tariffs is because the NDP government has been fueling international organized crime through their taxpayer-funded ‘safe supply’ programs for the better part of a decade,” said Sturko. 

“When our American neighbours see us dumping thousands and thousands of pills into the cross-border illicit market, and into the hands of youth, of course they want us to correct course. Minister Osborne and Premier Eby have one final chance, at the eleventh hour, to show that B.C. is serious about keeping drugs from crossing the border. They must commit to expert-recommended measures to prevent diversion.”

“Health Minister Josie Osborne’s mandate letter from Premier David Eby tasked her with preventing the diversion of prescribed opioids and reducing the overall prevalence of opioid prescriptions,” said Rattée. “There is no reason for the minister to refuse the recommendations from this organization of Canadian addiction medicine clinicians.”

According to Addiction Medicine Canada, there has never been a controlled trial study on “safe supply” programs. The studies conducted so far, on which the BC NDP has based their policy, are not reliable. Moreover, there has never been a formal study into the prevalence of prescribed opioid diversion, even though we know from family, media, and clinician reports that diversion to youth is occurring. 

Addiction Medicine Canada’s recommendations to community opioid agonist treatment providers include: 

  • Have a pharmacist or nurse supervise any and all dosing of hydromorphone 
  • Restrict hydromorphone prescriptions to patients who are both high-risk opioid users and whose drug use history meets certain medical criteria 
  • Discontinue the practice of prescribed take-home hydromorphone tablets 

“To what degree can we call ‘safe supply’ a harm reduction measure, when ultimately the diversion we are seeing is increasing the number of people using and being harmed by opioids?” said Sturko.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper to step down for Conservative Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in a by-election

Deputy Whip and MLA Reann Gasper has informed the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia of her decision to step down as MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, creating an opportunity for Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to seek the seat in a forthcoming by-election. Gasper said the decision was made carefully and deliberately, with the future of British Columbia firmly in mind. Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper “This is a decision I have made after a great deal of careful consideration, and I believe it is the right decision for me, for our Party, and for the work ahead,” said MLA Gasper. “It has been a privilege to represent the people of Abbotsford-Mission, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside my colleagues in the Conservative Caucus and to contribute to our leadership team.” “I have confidence in Kerry-Lynne, in her leadership, and in her ability to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Sits on $61 Million With No Start Date for Burnaby Hospital

Phase 2 of Burnaby Hospital redevelopment  was green lit to go ahead in September 2023 The NDP spent $45 million on the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment, cancelled the second phase, and now has another $61 million listed for the project in the province’s Public Accounts, with no start date for construction. If the NDP cancelled the project, what is happening to the $61 million set aside for it? The Phase 2 project was expected to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion and was intended to expand the hospital’s capacity. With Burnaby’s population growing and residents struggling to access healthcare, the government should be investing in healthcare capacity, not leaving millions of dollars tied up in limbo. “The NDP spent $45 million on this project before cancelling it, and now $61 million remains listed for it in the Public Accounts,” said MLA Misty Van Popta, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure. “If the government isn’t going to build the hospital expansion, it should explain whe...
Post a Comment
Read more

BC Conservatives Point to Warning Signs in BC’s Economy

While Canada posted modest job gains in July, warning lights are still flashing in British Columbia. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, leaving too many first-time jobseekers shut out of the workforce. BC also lost 3,400 public administration jobs in July, likely as temporary Census positions ended. “BC's jobs divide remains stark. Unemployment is far higher in business-driven communities like Kelowna (9.3%) and Abbotsford-Mission (8.3%) than in Victoria (5.0%). Government should be focused on creating the conditions for private-sector investment and job growth,” said Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and Shadow Minister for Economic Development. “We need an economy where young people can find work, businesses can hire, and every region has the opportunity to prosper.” This comes as BC faces five straight quarters where more businesses are closing than opening, an NDP cabinet rift over job-creating projects like Tilbury LNG, and fresh signs that even the province's to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more