Eby downplays Danielle Smith’s safe supply worry after B.C. seizure | 24CA News
British Columbia Premier David Eby is downplaying considerations raised by his Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith concerning the diversion of protected provide opioids from B.C.
Diversion from the system of prescribed protected provide to forestall overdoses is a “serious issue,” Eby mentioned, however the overwhelming majority of medicine in a B.C. police seizure cited by Smith weren’t from that program.
Prince George RCMP issued a news launch Thursday saying 1000’s of prescription capsules and different medicine have been seized prior to now three months.
In that launch, spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Cooper mentioned organized crime teams have been redistributing protected provide and pharmaceuticals, “some of which are then moved out of British Columbia and resold.”
Police didn’t instantly reply to requests to make clear how police decide capsules had been diverted from protected provide or what number of of those had been among the many seizure.
Eby mentioned medical professionals who administer protected provide to drug customers monitor for threat and “do everything possible to minimize the risk of diversion.”
He additionally inspired police to share any data they’ve about diverted prescribed alternate options with public well being authorities.
“If there is a gap in that process we want to address it right away,” he mentioned.
Smith issued an announcement on Friday saying she was involved that diverted protected provide medicine from B.C., together with hydromorphone, might find yourself being trafficked to Alberta, and she or he cited the Prince George seizures.
“Alberta has been warning for years that diversion of high-potency opioids from these programs could be diverted and trafficked across Canada, potentially causing irreparable harm and death in communities across the country,” Smith mentioned within the assertion.
“In Alberta, we have made the provision of ‘safe supply’ illegal to prevent this very thing from happening. Unfortunately, that does not stop organized criminals from bringing it here illegally from other provinces.”
She mentioned she has requested an emergency assembly between the federal public security and psychological well being and dependancy ministers and her counterparts in B.C. to “stop the flow of these high-potency opioids to Alberta.”
B.C. provincial well being officer Dr. Bonnie Henry launched a evaluation of prescribed safer provide applications in B.C. in December.
That evaluation mentioned some protected provide purchasers report diverting hydromorphone so as “to obtain fentanyl or other substances that adequately address their withdrawal and cravings” or to assist others who can’t entry this system.
“The impact of using diverted prescription opioids on people at current risk of unregulated drug poisoning remains unclear,” the report mentioned.
It mentioned anecdotal stories counsel that youth could also be accessing the diverted medicine, however present B.C. information doesn’t point out a rise in opioid use dysfunction amongst them.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
