Just have this come from their prescription pad: the medicalization of safer supply from the perspectives of health planners in BC, Canada

Macevicius, Celeste; Gudiño Pérez, Daniel; Norton, Alexa; Kolla, Gillian; Beck-McGreevy, Phoenix; Selfridge, Marion; Kalicum, Jeremy; Hutchison, Abby; Urbanoski, Karen; Barker, Brittany; Slaunwhite, Amanda; Nosyk, Bohdan; Pauly, Bernadette (Bernie)

doi:10.1080/09687637.2023.2283383

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 39 publications

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“…Despite evidence that participation is associated with fewer nonfatal overdoses [10,11], the federal government has not approved exemptions from federal legislation for compassion clubs to operate as sanctioned non-medicalized models. As such, the scale-up of sanctioned safer supply models has been limited to medicalized models where authorized medical professionals (physicians and nurse practitioners) prescribe pharmaceutical medications through existing regulatory regimes to people who are using and reliant on the unregulated drug supply [5,12]. Prescribed safer supply had been occurring on a small-scale prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with small programs in Ontario since 2016 [4,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would be here”: experiences of the first year of a safer supply program during the dual public health emergencies of COVID-19 and the drug toxicity crisis

Kolla,

Pauly,

Cameron

et al. 2024

Harm Reduct J

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Background In response to the devastating drug toxicity crisis in Canada driven by an unregulated opioid supply predominantly composed of fentanyl and analogues, safer supply programs have been introduced. These programs provide people using street-acquired opioids with prescribed, pharmaceutical opioids. We use six core components of safer supply programs identified by people who use drugs to explore participant perspectives on the first year of operations of a safer supply program in Victoria, BC, during the dual public health emergencies of COVID-19 and the drug toxicity crisis to examine whether the program met drug-user defined elements of an effective safer supply model. Methods This study used a community-based participatory research approach to ensure that the research was reflective of community concerns and priorities, rather than being extractive. We interviewed 16 safer supply program participants between December 2020 and June 2021. Analysis was structured using the six core components of effective safer supply from the perspective of people who use drugs, generated through a prior study. Results Ensuring access to the ‘right dose and right drugs’ of medications was crucial, with many participants reporting success with the available pharmaceutical options. However, others highlighted issues with the strength of the available medications and the lack of options for smokeable medications. Accessing the safer supply program allowed participants to reduce their use of drugs from unregulated markets and manage withdrawal, pain and cravings. On components related to program operations, participants reported receiving compassionate care, and that accessing the safer supply program was a non-stigmatizing experience. They also reported receiving support to find housing, access food, obtain ID, and other needs. However, participants worried about long term program sustainability. Conclusions Participants in the safer supply program overwhelmingly appreciated it and felt it was lifesaving, and unlike other healthcare or treatment services they had previously accessed. Participants raised concerns that unless a wider variety of medications and ability to consume them by multiple routes of administration became available, safer supply programs would remain unable to completely replace substances from unregulated markets.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%