BC Government’s Crackdown on Safe Supply Spreads Fear

published on February 21, 2025 by Dustin Godfrey in Filter

British Columbia’s provincial government has ended its take-home safe supply program for new participants, with an intention to transition existing patients to witnessed ingestion too.

The program provides pharmaceutical drugs, mostly opioids, to protect people who use drugs from the acute risks of the adulterated street supply. Some recipients could previously bring their drugs home to use at their doctors’ discretion; now, new clients are immediately required to take them at pharmacies or clinics, under the supervision of a pharmacist. That restriction is intended to extend to the entire program.

The abrupt reduction in access can be read as the government continuing its retreat from harm reduction in response to right-wing pressure. It’s a move people who use drugs and researchers say will be devastating for those who rely on safe supply—including those who use diverted medications, whether from safe supply programs or elsewhere…