The truth about safer supply programs and youth addiction

Faced with mounting evidence that “safer supply” programs are harming Canadian youth, some prominent harm-reduction activists are now peddling conspiracy theories and blaming the media for rising opioid addictions. This is absurd.

These programs distribute free addictive drugs – predominantly hydromorphone, a heroin-strength opioid – under the assumption that this practice “saves lives” by mitigating the use of riskier street substances.

In truth, most safer supply clients “divert” (sell or trade) almost all of their hydromorphone on the black market to acquire stronger illicit drugs, which then floods communities with opioids and fuels new addictions among adults and youth.

Addiction experts have been sounding the alarm over safer supply diversion for more than a year – but harm-reduction activists have falsely insisted there is no evidence that this diversion is widespread or that youth are being harmed.

However, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) published survey data in May showing that, between 2021 and 2023, the number of Ontario students who reported using pharmaceutical opioids for “non-medical” purposes skyrocketed by 71 percent, while the number of students who said that it is easy to obtain such opioids rose by 42 percent.

As safer supply only........

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