Ontario’s ‘Safer Supply’ Drug Crisis: Experts Call for Urgent Reform

URGENT UPDATE: Canadian addiction experts are sounding the alarm about Ontario’s unregulated “safer supply” drug prescribing, labeling the province a “wild west” for opioid prescriptions. Experts warn that unscrupulous doctors are profiting from electronic pill mills, where patients receive excessive prescriptions with minimal oversight.

The controversial “safer supply” initiative, which aims to provide free hydromorphone—a powerful opioid—to addicts, is spiraling out of control in Ontario. This practice, originally intended to reduce the use of dangerous street drugs, is now contributing to a surge in addiction, as many recipients sell their prescribed drugs to fund illicit purchases.

In a shocking revelation, Dr. Lori Regenstreif, a Hamilton-based addiction physician, stated that some Ontario doctors are prescribing between 30 to 40 hydromorphone pills per day, far exceeding the 14 pills limit set in British Columbia. Just a few of these pills can lead to fatal overdoses, raising serious safety concerns.

Despite the federal government’s withdrawal of funding for safer supply pilot programs earlier this year, most doctors remain free to prescribe these drugs off-label. This lack of regulation has resulted in a dramatic decline in demand for traditional addiction treatments like methadone, as users prefer the free opioids.

Dr. Regenstreif criticized the rise of tele-prescribing, where addiction doctors conduct brief video consultations, allowing patients to walk away with large opioid prescriptions. “You’ve basically got a doctor anywhere in the province telling a pharmacy to give this person hydromorphone tablets,” she said, describing the practice as a “money-printing machine” for both doctors and pharmacies.

Patients often receive inadequate care during these brief sessions, undermining recovery efforts. Moreover, some pharmacies are aggressively targeting individuals already stabilized on methadone, promoting the dangerous safer supply program.

In a letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), Addiction Medicine Canada (AMC) called for reform, but no action has been taken. Dr. Janel Gracey, another Ontario addiction physician, echoed these concerns, stating that the tele-prescribing system lacks consistent guidelines and accountability.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly downplayed the issue, claiming to be unaware of the extent of hydromorphone distribution in Ontario communities, despite provincial oversight of these drugs. Experts argue that this lack of transparency is alarming, especially as addiction rates continue to climb.

As the crisis escalates, the call for urgent reform in Ontario’s safer supply prescribing practices becomes increasingly critical. Experts warn that without immediate action, the province will face dire consequences in its ongoing battle against addiction.

Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.