Image: Canadian Press / file

By Elenore Sturko, MLA Surrey South

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: A.G.’s report highlights failure of NDP’s overdose prevention and ‘safe supply’ programs

Mar 27, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Last week, British Columbia’s Auditor General released two critical audits highlighting significant deficiencies in the NDP’s overdose prevention and so-called ‘safer supply’ program.

The report highlighted ineffective implementation and a lack of communication, consultation, and transparency. These types of failures are common in David Eby’s NDP government: acting secretively, keeping data away from the public’s view.

When it comes to the implementation of addiction services, the stakes couldn’t be higher — an average of seven British Columbians per day continue to lose their lives from this public health emergency.

As families, friends, and loved ones grapple with the tragedy of ever higher numbers of overdose deaths, David Eby and his NDP government attempt to evade accountability.

The status quo isn’t working, and yet David Eby and the NDP government continues to double down on the same failed policies, expecting different results.

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The Auditor General’s report illustrates the NDP’s failures, pointing to the need for better monitoring, more consistency across health authorities, higher minimum service standards, increased public reporting, and more robust consultation and evaluation of the programs.

This report is not the first to highlight the issues with the NDP’s overdose prevention and ‘safe supply’ policies and programs. BC United has consistently warned about these policies — concerns validated by police reports and now by the Auditor General.

BC United, along with addictions doctors across Canada, including 72 doctors from B.C., have been calling for a return to a witnessed prescriber-based program with an emphasis on recovery.

This means that doctors must have a plan to transition people from “safe supply” to treatment medications, and recovery services when prescribing pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs. A comprehensive and recovery-oriented system is the only way to truly help those struggling with addiction, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to get better.

As the Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addictions, and Recovery, it is my job to hold the government to account and ensure that people are receiving quality care, and it is clear now more than ever that this government is failing to do that.

Increasing overdose deaths, evidence of diversion, and increased crime and social disorder, all point to a government that has been incapable of addressing the current public health emergency. The Auditor General has confirmed what we’ve long suspected; David Eby and the NDP are incapable of effectively implementing programs. We need a dramatic shift towards BC United’s ‘Better is Possible’ plan, which emphasizes treatment, recovery, and rigorous enforcement against drug trafficking to protect our communities and truly help those struggling with addiction.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.