Safe supply: Vancouver police deputy chief says large amounts of opioids being diverted

British Columbia’s decriminalization pilot project has been a key topic of discussion at various levels of government in recent weeks, with the conversation re-igniting after comments about diversion by a high-ranking officer of the Vancouver Police Department.

While addressing a House of Commons committee Monday, Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson claimed about 50 per cent of hydromorphone seizures were diverted from safe supply drugs.

Premier David Eby was asked about these comments Tuesday, and said that this was the first time his government had heard these numbers from the VPD.

"Fifty per cent of the hydromorphone diverted is not from prescribed alternatives its from people’s prescriptions for pain or other uses, we need to stop all diversion."

Eby was asked if his government would consider ending the three-year pilot early, but he didn’t directly answer the question.

Saying they would continue to work on solutions to concerns like open drug use in hospital as well as inappropriate public spaces.