What does science say about introducing “safe supply” into a group of people using illicit drugs?

What does science say about introducing “safe supply” into a group of people already using illicit drugs?
Several authoritative sources, including the Stanford Lancet commission, specifically urged governments against introducing a pharmaceutical supply of drugs in the hopes of displacing illicit drugs.
The main reason is it does not work. What tends to happen is people who receive those drugs either sell them in order to procure the drugs that they want or they use them in addition to the drugs that they're procuring. And in both scenarios, the overall level of risk goes up. In fact, it's a rule of thumb that if we increase the overall supply of drugs in a population and don't change anything else, the number of drug related problems in that population increases.
Instead, what we should be doing is providing people with opportunities to engage in life and find sources of motivation that are sufficiently strong that they themselves feel less urge to use drugs and see more of an upside in altering their lives in ways that include their use of drugs. And currently we are not doing that in British Columbia.
#hope #addiction #opiodcrisis #homeless #bc #bcgovernment #bcndp #vancouver #britishcolumbia #vapoli #bcpoli #surrey #burnaby #vancouverisland #victoria #dtes #granville #recovery #mentalillness #prevention #community #housing #harmreduction #science

[@Paul-th9vr]

I found work a huge boost to my overall mental health by doing my best for my God and for my employer. Dedication to a specific goal or cause can be a key moral factor in being successful in overcoming addiction. Dr.Somers sounds like he has a great deal of experience and knowledge of how to best treat people who struggle with addictions and mental health.

[@tonyk2614]

Eventually, evidence, honesty and compassion will win, Julian. Please, keep fighting for our suffering loved ones.

[@babawui]

Thank you for your work. As we all know Oregon has reversed its policy and recognized its failure. I hope users find support from family and friends and community for the strength they need.

[@citizentv101]

Good luck finding anything in "life" that gives a comparable kick that's greater than the hit you get from a $3 pump on a pipe. Compound that with complex personal capacity issues like, being injured, having severe traumatic experiences, being of low IQ and EQ. There's no simple single solution. Perhaps we could spend more time and energy repairing, supporting, fostering stronger values and principles in our families, communities, and country that equip are children with better experience, confidence and tools to face the challenges with courage and grit.
Safe supply was a great way to try, and we have learned, and now we can pivot and align with new attempts to try and learn again.

[@uburstyn]

This is factually incorrect. Safe supply has been shown to reduce deaths from fentanyl spiking of drugs. The only thing he is saying that is right is that safe supply should be used in concert with other initiatives that remove the reasons for people to use drugs, but the tile is still misleading click-bait.