B.C. investigating ‘significant’ diversion prescribed opioids

A “significant portion” of opioids prescribed by doctors and pharmacists successful British Columbia are being diverted, and prescribed alternatives are being trafficked provincially, nationally and internationally, a Ministry of Health papers says.

The leaked briefing that was distributed by the Opposition B.C. Conservatives besides revealed the ministry has been conducting an probe into an alleged strategy involving “incentives” paid by dozens of pharmacies to patients, doctors and lodging providers.

Next steps volition see targeting of “specific pharmacies” by instrumentality enforcement agencies, it says.

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne confirmed the interior briefing’s authenticity connected Wednesday and told reporters successful a virtual gathering that it was “disappointing” it was leaked and the probe perchance compromised.

“I privation to admit that we cognize that this is happening. These allegations are here. There’s perfectly nary denial of it. There’s nary diminishing of it, and determination should beryllium nary acceptance of it. That’s wherefore we’re taking the actions that we are,” Osborne said.

Elenore Sturko, a Conservative MLA and professional of the solicitor wide and nationalist safety, said successful a connection that Premier David Eby, his ministers, and nationalist wellness serviceman Dr. Bonnie Henry had “denied and downplayed” the contented of diversion of alleged harmless proviso drugs.

“There is present nary uncertainty that the NDP authorities is liable for fuelling addiction, deaths, enriching organized crime, and facilitating planetary cause trafficking,” she said.

She added successful an interrogation that she was “confident that it’s clip for the premier to instrumentality enactment and instantly telephone a moratorium connected unwitnessed harmless supply.”

Unwitnessed harmless proviso is erstwhile pharmaceutical-grade drugs specified arsenic opioids are prescribed for users who tin instrumentality them distant to usage erstwhile and wherever they choose.

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The interior papers emerged arsenic Canada faces the menace of a commercialized warfare with the United States, which demands efforts beryllium made to halt fentanyl from crossing the border.

The 38-page papers is undated but includes information up to December suggesting the magnitude of the opioid hydromorphone dispensed to dainty cause users has soared by astir 20 times successful caller years.

It says immoderate pharmacies are alleged to beryllium “offering incentives to clients” with much than 60 pharmacies identified, and that immoderate “community lodging staff” necessitate tenants to spell to definite pharmacies for their prescriptions.

The document, which Osborne said was a briefing delivered to police, says immoderate pharmacies are trying to maximize their dispensing fees by offering incentives.

It says different participants successful the alleged schemes see doctors, assisted surviving residences, and organized criminals.

“To enactment this successful scale, you know, we person astir 1,400 assemblage pharmacies successful British Columbia, and this is simply a precise tiny proportionality of those wherever those allegations person taken place, but we request to fto the investigations play up,” Osborne said.

Osborne said that successful summation to ministry staff, the probe is being conducted by a peculiar portion made up of erstwhile constabulary officers.

This study by The Canadian Press was archetypal published Feb. 5, 2025.