"This is really egregious political interference in medical decision-making. It doesn't really support recovery. It doesn't really support people getting on with their lives you know being basically chained to a pharmacy all day long."

Nitazenes, also known as benzimidazole-opioids, are a group of synthetic opioids that have become increasingly relevant in recent years. First synthesized in the late 1950s by the Swiss chemical company CIBA Aktiengesellschaft, these novel non-fentanyl synthetic opioids were originally developed as potential pain medications but never approved for clinical use [1]. Today, nitazenes are being detected in the unregulated global drug supply, including Canada.

Earlier this week, the B.C. government announced that all patients receiving a safer supply of drugs will be required to have a medical professional present when using drugs in a bid to stop drugs from being diverted to the street. I think that'll be even more challenging. So, I think it's going to reduce the number of people in this program significantly. I'm not sure it'll have much impact on the on on diverted Dilaudid.