The federal government is providing more than $15 million over the next four years to create four safer drug supply projects for people at risk of overdoses in British Columbia.
The projects will provide pharmaceutical-grade medication as an alternative to the toxic illegal opioid supply currently in circulation, in an attempt to reduce illicit drug overdose deaths, according to a government statement. The safe supplies will be located in Vancouver and Victoria and will provide people with opioid use disorder with a safer, medical alternative from a licensed prescriber.
“Street supply opioids have been tainted by fentanyl and benzodiazepines, making them fatal. The number of preventable deaths have steadily increased and evidence shows that one of the surest ways to save lives is through replacement therapy with a safe supply,” Vancouver Centre MP Hedy Fry said in the statement.