British Columbia Premier David Eby is downplaying considerations raised by his Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith concerning the diversion of protected provide opioids from B.C.
Diversion from the system of prescribed protected provide to stop overdoses is a “critical problem,” Eby mentioned, however the overwhelming majority of medicine in a B.C. police seizure cited by Smith weren’t from that program.
Prince George RCMP issued a information launch Thursday saying hundreds of prescription capsules and different medicine have been seized previously three months.
In that launch, spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Cooper mentioned organized crime teams have been redistributing protected provide and pharmaceuticals, “a few of that are then moved out of British Columbia and resold.”
Police didn’t instantly reply to requests to make clear how police decide capsules had been diverted from protected provide or what number of of those had been among the many seizure.
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Eby mentioned medical professionals who administer protected provide to drug customers monitor for danger and “do every part potential to attenuate the chance of diversion.”
He additionally inspired police to share any info they’ve about diverted prescribed options with public well being authorities.
“If there’s a hole in that course of we need to handle it immediately,” he mentioned.
Smith issued a press release on Friday saying she was involved that diverted protected provide medicine from B.C., together with hydromorphone, could find yourself being trafficked to Alberta, and he or she cited the Prince George seizures.
“Alberta has been warning for years that diversion of high-potency opioids from these packages may very well be diverted and trafficked throughout Canada, probably inflicting irreparable hurt and dying in communities throughout the nation,” Smith mentioned within the assertion.
“In Alberta, we’ve got made the availability of ‘protected provide’ unlawful to stop this very factor from occurring. Sadly, that doesn’t cease organized criminals from bringing it right here illegally from different provinces.”
She mentioned she has requested an emergency assembly between the federal public security and psychological well being and habit ministers and her counterparts in B.C. to “cease the stream of those high-potency opioids to Alberta.”
B.C. provincial well being officer Dr. Bonnie Henry launched a evaluation of prescribed safer provide packages in B.C. in December.
That evaluation mentioned some protected provide purchasers report diverting hydromorphone so as “to acquire fentanyl or different substances that adequately handle their withdrawal and cravings” or to assist others who can not entry this system.
“The influence of utilizing diverted prescription opioids on individuals at present danger of unregulated drug poisoning stays unclear,” the report mentioned.
It mentioned anecdotal studies recommend that youth could also be accessing the diverted medicine, however present B.C. information doesn’t point out a rise in opioid use dysfunction amongst them.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
