Safe supply: Vancouver police deputy chief says large amounts of opioids being diverted
British Columbia’s decriminalization pilot project has been a key topic of discussion at various levels of government in recent weeks, with the conversation re-igniting after comments about diversion by a high-ranking officer of the Vancouver Police Department.
While addressing a House of Commons committee Monday, Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson claimed about 50 per cent of hydromorphone seizures were diverted from safe supply drugs.
“That’s just in recognition of the fact that someone who’s on a bonafide safe supply program has a more regular significant supply,” said Wilson, who was speaking in her role as the president of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police.
Wilson said that roughly 20 per cent of hydromorphone prescriptions in B.C. are from safe supply.
Premier David Eby was asked about these comments Tuesday, and said that this was the first time his government had heard these numbers from the VPD.
“Our government wants this information, we want to identify where and how it’s being diverted,” he said.
"Fifty per cent of the hydromorphone diverted is not from prescribed alternatives its from people’s prescriptions for pain or other uses, we need to stop all diversion."
Wilson’s comments also drew a rise from the opposition.
“It’s what we’ve been saying all along, that there is a diversion of safe supply, hydromorphone in particular,” said Elenore Sturko, B.C. United's shadow minister for mental health and addictions.
“It’s a pilot, it’s time to end this pilot,” she said.
“It doesn’t mean we can’t work on another solution but right now what is going on is not working."
Wilson says a bigger concern of hers is organized crime groups making counterfeit opioids.
“The problem is we have no idea what’s in the counterfeit pill, and it could be deadly,” she said.
Eby was asked if his government would consider ending the three-year pilot early, but he didn’t directly answer the question.
Saying they would continue to work on solutions to concerns like open drug use in hospital as well as inappropriate public spaces.
“We need to have a tool for police to be able to ensure public safety,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Lyon-bound Air Canada Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Montreal turns back midflight due to pressurization alert
Passengers heading from Montreal to Lyon, France on Friday were forced to return home and depart the next day after a pressurization indication was detected in flight.
The eight most expensive homes for sale in Ottawa this spring
Ottawa's ultra luxury housing market is blooming like the tulips this spring, with a significant increase in the number of homes sold worth more than $2 million.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.