Pharmacies still paying patients kickbacks, DTES sources say
CBC News has spoken to more than a dozen people in the community, including pharmacists, nurses, doctors and patients with first-hand experience, who claim some pharmacies are paying customers a share of the money they claim from the B.C.'s PharmaCare program.
They say payments can range between $100 and $200 per month depending on the number of daily prescriptions per person.
"The fact that these sort of behaviours are so common, and particularly within this population, without remedy over all these years is of great concern to me,"
The College of Pharmacists of B.C. and B.C.'s Ministry of Health declined an interview with CBC News and sent emailed statements instead.
The college says it has a "long-standing concern about the negative effects of incentive programs" but does not comment publicly about complaints due to privacy reasons.
Vancouver pharmacy shuttered over safer supply misuse claims
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) also found "evidence of criminal activities" and "public safety risks" during traffic stops of the pharmacy's delivery vehicle, the college said.
In a statement to CBC News Tuesday, the VPD said that in January and February of this year, police working in the Downtown Eastside had "interactions with a person engaging in activity that was consistent with dial-a-doping" — where people call a cellphone number to arrange to buy the drugs and get them delivered to a specific location.
"The person was observed driving in the Downtown Eastside with a variety of prescription medications, cash, drug paraphernalia, and weapons. The person claimed he was an employee of a pharmacy and was doing deliveries.
Sometimes you just have to admit when something isn’t working.
Quote:
B.C.’s former chief coroner Larry Campbell fought for drug decriminalization. Now he backs its reversal
… The government, he says, has put too much stress on reducing the harms that come with using drugs and not enough on helping people quit using them altogether.
“I’ve been a big harm-reduction guy forever and, after decriminalization, I just came to the realization that we were going down the wrong path and nobody was standing up,” he said in an interview.
He recently went to Alberta to look at its recovery model for addressing the overdose crisis and was impressed by what he saw. Alberta’s United Conservative Party government has been de-emphasizing harm reduction and investing heavily in creating an effective system of addiction treatment. The centrepiece of its effort is a network of treatment centres, known as therapeutic communities, where those with addictions can stay for up to a year.
“We’ve got to figure out how we help people not only stay alive but have a life,” Mr. Campbell said.
… Advocates of the harm-reduction approach say the worries about safe supply are overblown. They say that right-wing politicians preying on the fears of the public are leading a backlash.
Mr. Campbell says he is just adapting his views to reflect the facts.
Despite all the effort put into harm reduction, he says, British Columbia just had its deadliest year ever for drug overdoses. More than 2,500 people died in 2023, compared with 200 or 300 a year when he was chief coroner. Each time he visits the Downtown Eastside, the epicentre of the province’s drug crisis, he feels “terrible sadness, almost to the point of despair.”
To combat the crisis, he says, governments have to take a more balanced approach. Harm reduction is still important. Supervised consumption sites allow users to take their drugs in a hygienic setting, with trained attendants on hand in case they overdose. Handing out naloxone kits allows police, paramedics and ordinary citizens to reverse overdoses in minutes.
But those measures are only part of the answer. He says authorities should be paying more attention to the other pillars of the accepted four-pillar approach to the problem: prevention, enforcement and, above all, treatment.
“Harm reduction, from my point of view, had gotten all of the publicity, gotten all of the money, and treatment was not there for the most part in the Canadian system.”
I was talking to a fire fighter on the weekend who told me they'll respond to 30-40 overdose calls in a single work shift.
how many are the same user over and over and over again?
a fire fighter buddy of mine says it's so frustrating - his shift starts and they get an OD call - they narcan "dave" and now dave is mad that they ruined his high. 3 - 4 hours later, they have to narcan "dave" again... and again he's mad that he's no longer high. 3 - 4 hours later....
it's just an endless cycle.
my next door neighbour is a public health nurse. the 'record' for giving narcan to the same person over a 24 hour period is something like 25 or 26 times. it's just brutal.
__________________ "...and there goes Finger up the middle on Luongo!" - Jim Hughson, Av's vs. 'Nucks
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Four people now face charges of drug trafficking in association with the bust — with one count specifically accusing them of dealing hydromorphone, the substance handed out as safe supply.
"It's never 'safe' when it's in the hands of drug dealers," says Chief Ronnie Chickite, leader of the We Wai Kai's roughly 1,100 members.
"It just shows you that it's not a safe supply. I think the program had intentions, but it's obviously failed. ... I know the government officials see it different, but this is how we're seeing it as a nation of our size. And seeing the amount that was there, I mean it's unfortunate, but it's not the system we need."
Campbell River RCMP entered the fray in February by announcing the seizure of 3,500 pills of Dilaudid — a brand name for hydromorphone — during a bust on the We Wai Kai First Nation.
CBC News: How taxpayer-funded drugs meant to help solve the opioid crisis ended up on the street
Diversion of safe supply drugs makes up majority of seized opioids: London police
A major issue that police and community health prescribers are tackling is the diversion of Dilaudid prescribed from safe supply programs found in these seizures as an unintended consequence of that program. Dilaudid is prescribed in opioid-replacement programs to help patients move away from street-level opioids where most overdoses occur due to unknown drug composition, and towards a consistent, safe dose of prescribed medication.
However, patients are using their take-home prescriptions of Dilaudid as currency to purchase stronger opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil.
“So far in 2023, we’ve seized just over 12,000 hydromorphone tablets, the overwhelming majority of which, meaning all but 675, was in Dilaudid 8-mg form,” says Dept. Police Chief Paul Bastien.
“We have found direct evidence linking Dilaudid 8-mg seizures to safe supply. In 26 separate cases, we obtained direct evidence of diversion in the form of packaging or labelling.”
In 2019, London police seized approximately 850 hydromorphone tablets, 75 or 10 per cent were Dilaudid 8 mg. In 2023, they seized 30,000 hydromorphone tablets with 15,000 being Dilaudid 8 mg. So far in 2024, police report just over 12,000 hydromorphone tablets seized with all but 675 being Dilaudid.
Four people now face charges of drug trafficking in association with the bust — with one count specifically accusing them of dealing hydromorphone, the substance handed out as safe supply.
"It's never 'safe' when it's in the hands of drug dealers," says Chief Ronnie Chickite, leader of the We Wai Kai's roughly 1,100 members.
"It just shows you that it's not a safe supply. I think the program had intentions, but it's obviously failed. ... I know the government officials see it different, but this is how we're seeing it as a nation of our size. And seeing the amount that was there, I mean it's unfortunate, but it's not the system we need."
Campbell River RCMP entered the fray in February by announcing the seizure of 3,500 pills of Dilaudid — a brand name for hydromorphone — during a bust on the We Wai Kai First Nation.
CBC News: How taxpayer-funded drugs meant to help solve the opioid crisis ended up on the street
Diversion of safe supply drugs makes up majority of seized opioids: London police
A major issue that police and community health prescribers are tackling is the diversion of Dilaudid prescribed from safe supply programs found in these seizures as an unintended consequence of that program. Dilaudid is prescribed in opioid-replacement programs to help patients move away from street-level opioids where most overdoses occur due to unknown drug composition, and towards a consistent, safe dose of prescribed medication.
However, patients are using their take-home prescriptions of Dilaudid as currency to purchase stronger opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil.
“So far in 2023, we’ve seized just over 12,000 hydromorphone tablets, the overwhelming majority of which, meaning all but 675, was in Dilaudid 8-mg form,” says Dept. Police Chief Paul Bastien.
“We have found direct evidence linking Dilaudid 8-mg seizures to safe supply. In 26 separate cases, we obtained direct evidence of diversion in the form of packaging or labelling.”
In 2019, London police seized approximately 850 hydromorphone tablets, 75 or 10 per cent were Dilaudid 8 mg. In 2023, they seized 30,000 hydromorphone tablets with 15,000 being Dilaudid 8 mg. So far in 2024, police report just over 12,000 hydromorphone tablets seized with all but 675 being Dilaudid.
I wouldn't be surprised if many addicts are going to drug dealers and swapping their safe supply tablets for Fentanyl. The drug dealers can probably sell to a wider audience with the safe supply tablets, while supplying users with cheap yet highly desired Fentanyl.
how many are the same user over and over and over again?
a fire fighter buddy of mine says it's so frustrating - his shift starts and they get an OD call - they narcan "dave" and now dave is mad that they ruined his high. 3 - 4 hours later, they have to narcan "dave" again... and again he's mad that he's no longer high. 3 - 4 hours later....
it's just an endless cycle.
my next door neighbour is a public health nurse. the 'record' for giving narcan to the same person over a 24 hour period is something like 25 or 26 times. it's just brutal.
Not sure but probably a good point.
He was telling us about the call outs depending which station you're working at and the number I posted would be a downtown one.
If you're stationed at those locations, you're dealing with OD calls pretty much non stop.
Not sure but probably a good point.
He was telling us about the call outs depending which station you're working at and the number I posted would be a downtown one.
If you're stationed at those locations, you're dealing with OD calls pretty much non stop.
that's the exact same situation in kelowna.
for the longest time station 2 (the station in downtown kelowna) was "the" station to be at - a very coveted post to get. not anymore. the vast majority of their calls are OD's. then a couple fire alarm calls, non-medical OD calls, the odd accident and then fires. they do get more actual fire calls in the winter as the addicts decide it's a good idea to light up piles of combustible materials outside of buildings to keep warm.
__________________ "...and there goes Finger up the middle on Luongo!" - Jim Hughson, Av's vs. 'Nucks
for the longest time station 2 (the station in downtown kelowna) was "the" station to be at - a very coveted post to get. not anymore. the vast majority of their calls are OD's. then a couple fire alarm calls, non-medical OD calls, the odd accident and then fires. they do get more actual fire calls in the winter as the addicts decide it's a good idea to light up piles of combustible materials outside of buildings to keep warm.
The true nature of the problem may be masked by increased emergency services responses:
BC did set a new record for ODs in 2023, but the actual numbers (2511) weren't that much higher than 2022 (2383). Meanwhile OD emergency response call were up 25% (42,172) from 2022 (33,654). Cities like Kelowna, Penticton, PG, and Kamloops definitely seem to be suffering more relative their population.
Four people now face charges of drug trafficking in association with the bust — with one count specifically accusing them of dealing hydromorphone, the substance handed out as safe supply.
"It's never 'safe' when it's in the hands of drug dealers," says Chief Ronnie Chickite, leader of the We Wai Kai's roughly 1,100 members.
"It just shows you that it's not a safe supply. I think the program had intentions, but it's obviously failed. ... I know the government officials see it different, but this is how we're seeing it as a nation of our size. And seeing the amount that was there, I mean it's unfortunate, but it's not the system we need."
Campbell River RCMP entered the fray in February by announcing the seizure of 3,500 pills of Dilaudid — a brand name for hydromorphone — during a bust on the We Wai Kai First Nation.
CBC News: How taxpayer-funded drugs meant to help solve the opioid crisis ended up on the street
Diversion of safe supply drugs makes up majority of seized opioids: London police
A major issue that police and community health prescribers are tackling is the diversion of Dilaudid prescribed from safe supply programs found in these seizures as an unintended consequence of that program. Dilaudid is prescribed in opioid-replacement programs to help patients move away from street-level opioids where most overdoses occur due to unknown drug composition, and towards a consistent, safe dose of prescribed medication.
However, patients are using their take-home prescriptions of Dilaudid as currency to purchase stronger opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil.
“So far in 2023, we’ve seized just over 12,000 hydromorphone tablets, the overwhelming majority of which, meaning all but 675, was in Dilaudid 8-mg form,” says Dept. Police Chief Paul Bastien.
“We have found direct evidence linking Dilaudid 8-mg seizures to safe supply. In 26 separate cases, we obtained direct evidence of diversion in the form of packaging or labelling.”
In 2019, London police seized approximately 850 hydromorphone tablets, 75 or 10 per cent were Dilaudid 8 mg. In 2023, they seized 30,000 hydromorphone tablets with 15,000 being Dilaudid 8 mg. So far in 2024, police report just over 12,000 hydromorphone tablets seized with all but 675 being Dilaudid.
So you think they are increasing the number of users or displacing fentanyl with pharmaceutical? If it is displacing fentanyl then the safe supply being fenced is actually a good thing from a harm reduction standpoint.
So you think they are increasing the number of users or displacing fentanyl with pharmaceutical? If it is displacing fentanyl then the safe supply being fenced is actually a good thing from a harm reduction standpoint.
price and availability are the chief determinants for the use of any addictive product, if you aren't closely supervising the dispensing of the legal drugs then they will clearly increase the supply and decrease the price on the street
how many are the same user over and over and over again?
a fire fighter buddy of mine says it's so frustrating - his shift starts and they get an OD call - they narcan "dave" and now dave is mad that they ruined his high. 3 - 4 hours later, they have to narcan "dave" again... and again he's mad that he's no longer high. 3 - 4 hours later....
it's just an endless cycle.
my next door neighbour is a public health nurse. the 'record' for giving narcan to the same person over a 24 hour period is something like 25 or 26 times. it's just brutal.
price and availability are the chief determinants for the use of any addictive product, if you aren't closely supervising the dispensing of the legal drugs then they will clearly increase the supply and decrease the price on the street
Concentration and addictiveness of the substance also have significant impacts on the destructive potential of the drug. So more of a less damaging drug could result in less harm.
Concentration and addictiveness of the substance also have significant impacts on the destructive potential of the drug. So more of a less damaging drug could result in less harm.
opioids just don't work that way, the more you take the more you need to take to get as high, I can see creating a program to monitor use and try and help users maintain, throw in housing outside the DTES as part of the attraction but just giving actively addicted street level users free drugs is basically handing them free cash to buy more fenty
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the irony is the DTES is shrinking massively, it is about a 3rd the size it used to be, that is causing some of the issues, there used to be rooming houses scattered through Chinatown, Strathcona even Gastown, all of that has been gentrified.
I remember helping one of my ex foster kids friends move from a 'tech development start up hub' in Chinatown a couple of years ago, full of asian kids attending SFU downtown or doing digital arts courses at Emily Carr, I freaked the kid out by letting him know I'd worked with a 17 year old crack head who'd lived in his very 'suite' (suite meaning a bedroom with a toilet) a decade earlier who had been thrown off the 3rd floor balcony by his supplier for not paying his bills
the irony is the DTES is shrinking massively, it is about a 3rd the size it used to be, that is causing some of the issues, there used to be rooming houses scattered through Chinatown, Strathcona even Gastown, all of that has been gentrified.
I remember helping one of my ex foster kids friends move from a 'tech development start up hub' in Chinatown a couple of years ago, full of asian kids attending SFU downtown or doing digital arts courses at Emily Carr, I freaked the kid out by letting him know I'd worked with a 17 year old crack head who'd lived in his very 'suite' (suite meaning a bedroom with a toilet) a decade earlier who had been thrown off the 3rd floor balcony by his supplier for not paying his bills
Yup, their strategy is to spread them around instead of having everything within 8 or 9 blocks. I was at Howe and Davie area before I moved and there were 4 rooming houses within a 4 block perimeter that I knew of.
the irony is the DTES is shrinking massively, it is about a 3rd the size it used to be, that is causing some of the issues, there used to be rooming houses scattered through Chinatown, Strathcona even Gastown, all of that has been gentrified.
I remember helping one of my ex foster kids friends move from a 'tech development start up hub' in Chinatown a couple of years ago, full of asian kids attending SFU downtown or doing digital arts courses at Emily Carr, I freaked the kid out by letting him know I'd worked with a 17 year old crack head who'd lived in his very 'suite' (suite meaning a bedroom with a toilet) a decade earlier who had been thrown off the 3rd floor balcony by his supplier for not paying his bills
Just want to shout out to the poster who is actually in the crap and doing the heavy lifting. I could never do what you do. This crappy little post is my acknowledgement. This guy is a kingpin.
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