B.C. investigates 'significant' prescribed drug diversion, including international trafficking
Conservative critic calls for inquiry into province's safer supply drug program
An Opposition critic is calling for an inquiry into B.C.'s safer supply drug program after it emerged that the province is investigating the diversion of opioids prescribed by doctors and pharmacists.
A recent B.C. Ministry of Health document says a "significant portion" of prescribed opioids is being diverted and that prescribed alternatives are being trafficked provincially, nationally and internationally.
The leaked briefing that was distributed by the Opposition B.C. Conservatives also says the ministry has been conducting an investigation, with next steps to include targeting of "specific pharmacies" by law enforcement agencies.
Elenore Sturko, the Conservative public safety critic, said the Opposition had been raising the alarm on the potential diversion of prescribed opioids for months, and she wants a public inquiry into the program.
"There are indications here that this is a program that is exploiting the most vulnerable people in our province by enabling a system whereby people with severe addictions are being used for profit by some bad actors in pharmacies, housing and health care," she told CBC News.
"And frankly, it's disgusting."
Sturko says the province has gone out of its way to minimize the issue of safe supply diversion, and she says prescribed alternatives and opioids should not be handed out without their consumption being witnessed by a health professional.
"There is no doubt that there is a role for pharmaceuticals to play in helping people who are suffering from substance use disorders and drug addictions," the critic said. "And that's never been the question.
"The question was whether or not it was a good idea to be handing out, in some cases, very large quantities of powerful and highly addictive medications — without the accountability of ensuring the person who those meds were intended for is actually taking them."
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Health minister confirms investigation
The presentation's authenticity has been confirmed by Health Minister Josie Osborne, who says it's "disappointing" that it was leaked and the investigation potentially compromised.
Osborne, speaking at a virtual briefing after the document was leaked, says that in addition to ministry staff, the investigation is being conducted by a special unit made up of former police officers.
But she says the government would stay focused on the investigation, as taking action on the issue was a priority for the government.
"There's absolutely no excuse for bad actors when it comes to pharmacists or pharmacies, and that's why we're taking very strong action on this," Osborne told reporters.
"We want to make sure that we're helping people because, at the heart of this, this really is about people," she added. "It's about keeping people alive, ensuring that we're able to connect them to the supports that they need."
Osborne said the investigation was started before she was appointed to her post after the 2024 election and stressed that it was a "very small proportion" of pharmacies who were alleged to have taken part in the diversion.
The 38-page document is undated but includes data up to December suggesting the amount of the opioid hydromorphone dispensed to treat drug users has soared by about 20 times in recent years.
It says some pharmacies are alleged to be "offering incentives to clients," with more than 60 pharmacies identified, and that some "community housing staff" require tenants to go to certain pharmacies for their prescriptions.
Other participants in the alleged schemes, according to the document, include doctors, assisted living residences, and organized criminals.
The document has emerged as Canada faces the threat of a trade war with the United States, which demands efforts be made to stop fentanyl from crossing the border.
With files from the CBC's Katie DeRosa and The Canadian Press's Marcy Nicholson