Two peer-reviewed studies have conflicting findings on the impact of British Columbia's safer supply program, which provides prescription alternatives to toxic illicit drugs. One study suggests a reduced risk of death from overdose among participants, while the other indicates a significant increase in opioid overdose hospitalizations in the community.
RELATED VIDEO: The BC United Opposition and government are trading barbs over allegations that safe supply drugs are being diverted into the street-level drug supply. Jordan Armstrong reports. – Mar 11, 2024Peer-reviewed research is emerging about the possible impact of British Columbia ’s safer supply program , which provides prescription alternatives to toxic illicit drugs.
Shawn Bugden is an author of one of the studies, which found an almost 63 per cent “relative increase” in the opioid overdose hospitalization rate across B.C. after the introduction of safer supply. It was published in JAMA Internal Medicine in January.He said in an interview there could be multiple explanations, including the diversion of safe-supply drugs onto the illicit market, which the study says could occur “for various reasons, including to purchase unregulated fentanyl.
Bach said the JAMA study demonstrated the possibility of an increase in opioid-related hospitalizations in B.C. compared with other provinces. “We really want to see whether, in the long term, this is resulting in deaths at the individual level. And if that works well enough, then we should see it at the population level, eventually, as well,” he said.
British Columbia Safer Supply Program Prescription Alternatives Illicit Drugs Peer-Reviewed Studies Overdose Opioid Hospitalizations
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