California and New York have opened “safe injection sites,” and Canada is creating “safer supply programs,” enabling residents to legally use illegal drugs. The programs are meant to create safe spaces where people already using drugs can be monitored by health officials to prevent drug overdoses.
Point phone camera here
British Columbia is being criticized for having fentanyl as one of the drugs available and for allowing minors to take part — seemingly without parental consent.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a public policy think tank, reviewed the prescribed safer supply protocols’ latest guidance. The fentanyl program requires someone to be an active user of unregulated fentanyl and at high risk of overdose.
For minors wanting to participate, it is recommended that prescribers on-site get a second prescriber’s opinion before handing over a low-dose fentanyl tablet. There is no section requiring a prescriber to obtain parental consent, and it does not specify a minimum age for clients.
Under the “precautions” section of the program guidance, a prescriber is required to document their decision to give fentanyl to a minor.
MLI stands opposed to the program and published a report calling the initiative “reckless.”
“Governments have a duty to provide evidence-based treatment to vulnerable citizens and consider collateral harms to others,” report author Adam Zivo said. “Rather than fulfill this duty, the BC government is committing to risky and highly experimental interventions that lack an appropriate evidence base.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK THEY’RE KNOWN AS “SAFE INJECTION SITES.”
IN CANADA THEY’RE CALLED “SAFER SUPPLY PROGRAMS”.
IT’S WHERE RESIDENTS CAN GO AND LEGALLY USE ILLEGAL DRUGS.
AT SOME CENTERS – THE ILLICIT DRUGS ARE PROVIDED FOR YOU.
THE BRITISH COLUMBIA IS NOW BEING CRITICIZED FOR HAVING FENTANYL ON THE MENU OF DRUGS AVAILABLE AND FOR ALLOWING MINORS TO TAKE PART – SEEMINGLY WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.
THAT IS ACCORDING TO AN ADVOCACY GROUP WHO REVIEWED THE “PRESCRIBED SAFER SUPPLY PROTOCOLS” LATEST GUIDANCE.
IN ITS FENTANYL PROGRAM –
TO QUALIFY, SOMEONE MUST BE AN ACTIVE USER OF UNREGULATED FENTANYL AND BE AT HIGH RISK OF OVERDOSE.
FOR MINORS WANTING TO PARTICIPATE – ITS **RECOMMENDED THAT PRESCRIBERS ON SITE GET A SECOND PRESCRIBER’S OPINION BEFORE HANDING OVER A LOW DOSE FENTANYL TABLET.
IN ITS GUIDANCE, THERE IS NO SECTION WHERE A PRESCRIBER WOULD NEED TO REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT.
AND IT DOESN’T SPECIFY A MINIMUM AGE FOR CLIENTS.
BUT UNDER THE “PRECAUTIONS” SECTION OF THE PROGRAM GUIDANCE –
A PRESCRIBER IS REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT THEIR DECISION TO GIVE A MINOR FENTANYL.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM?
TO PROMOTE A SAFE SPACE WHERE PEOPLE ALREADY USING DRUGS CAN BE MONITORED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS TO PREVENT DRUG OVERDOSES AND SAVE LIVES.
AN ADVOCACY GROUP IN CANADA OPPOSED TO THE PROGRAM PUBLISHED A REPORT –
CALLING THE INITIATIVE “RECKLESS.”
THE REPORT’S CONCLUSION SAID
“Governments have a duty to provide evidence-based treatment to vulnerable citizens and consider collateral harms to others. Rather than fulfill this duty, the BC government is committing to risky and highly experimental interventions that lack an appropriate evidence base.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
