B.C. nurse practitioners can now prescribe drugs for opioid addiction

published on April 4, 2018 by The Canadian Press in CTV News

VICTORIA – Nurse practitioners in British Columbia now have the power to prescribe drugs used to treat opioid addiction.

The provincial government says the College of Registered Nurses of B.C. has expanded its standards so nurse practitioners can prescribe medication like injectable hydromorphone, methadone and suboxone.

Cynthia Johansen, the college’s registrar and CEO, says the change will help nurse practitioners to better meet the increasing demand for opioid substitution treatment.