Vaughn Palmer: Why did it take so long to implement witnessed consumption rules for longer-term consumers of safer supply drugs?

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VICTORIA — The New Democrats are taking more steps to prevent government-dispensed safer-supply drugs from being resold to criminals, nine months after finally admitting that diversions were happening.

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The new policy, taking effect at the end of the year, will require that the drugs must for the most part be consumed in the presence of health-care professionals.

A pharmacist or nurse will be paid $4 to $10, depending on the drug, each time they witness consumption — more than that if the drug user needs more than one hit a day.

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The government first announced a shift to witnessed consumption back in February after grudgingly admitting what it had long denied, that some safer-supply clients were picking up their drugs at pharmacies, then stepping outside to exchange them for money or stronger drugs.

The switch to witnessed consumption was........

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