The provincial government is making changes to its safer-supply drug program, requiring most of those enrolled to have their doses taken in the presence of a nurse or pharmacist.

The program’s detractors say it has led to drugs being diverted into the hands of youth, while advocates have long warned that requiring witnessing will place new barriers on drug users and blunt the effectiveness of the program, potentially leading to an increase in overdoses and deaths.

In February, B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne announced that all new clients placed in the program would have to take their medications in front of a health-care worker, but stated that there would be a transition period for those already taking safer supply drugs…