The federal government says it has no plans to restart federal funding for dozens of “safer supply” and drug addiction services that was cut in March.
In the last five years, Health Canada has provided funding to 31 different programs that offered government-sanctioned drugs to opioid addicts, which proponents said decreased drug toxicity and opponents said led to more overdoses and a ballooning drug trade in those reselling the narcotics on the street.
“Safer supply” programs prescribe opioids and stimulant drugs to addicts with the goal of providing standardized quantities and ingredients. The aim of the programs is to give access to regulated drugs that aren’t potentially contaminated with other drugs like xylazine, which could cause overdose deaths….