Between 2019 and 2023 hydromorphone pills seized by police in Niagara Region increased from 291 pills to 4,590. Photo Credit: AIER.
The National Post is reporting that Ontario police departments, including in Niagara Region, have released data showing police seizures of hydromorphone, an opioid with as much potency as heroin, has surged by more than 1,000 per cent since so-called “safer supply” programs were introduced widely in 2020.
The programs are viewed positively by the federal government and allow for the distribution of free drugs, usually hydromorphone, to supposedly mitigate the use of even more dangerous drugs.
According to the government of Canada, “Safer supply refers to providing prescribed medications as a safer alternative to the toxic illegal drug supply to people who are at high risk of overdose. Safer supply services can help prevent overdoses, save lives, and connect people who use drugs to other health and social services.”
However, National Post and writer and Executive Director of the Centre for Responsible Drug Policy Adam Zivo has repeatedly shown that these drugs are often diverted, with recipients trading in those sanctioned drugs for stronger and illegal substances.
This, in turn, has fuelled drug addiction.
Zivo had previously reported the release of data from the city of London. Now he is noting that other police services, including the Niagara Regional Police Service, are also opening up about the diversion of safe supply drugs in Niagara Region.
According to Zivo, between 2019 and 2023 hydromorphone seizures in Niagara Region increased by a staggering 1,577 per cent. That’s an increase from 291 pills seized in 2019 to 4,590 pills seized in 2023.
While these are the number of seized pills, no doubt additional drugs have also been diverted from “safer supply” programs in the region that haven’t been caught by police.
Niagara Region’s deputy chief of police, Todd Waselovich, told Zivo that he’s concerned about the increase in prevalence of hydromorphone in Niagara Region and he sees real dangers with the “safer supply” approach.
“Clearly the numbers are going up and the safer supply is ending up in police investigations – clearly they’re not being used the way they’re supposed to be used,” said Waselovich.
Waselovich has been a deputy police chief in Niagara Region since earlier this year. He has been with the force for more than 25 years.
Waselovich is echoing the concerns of police and “safer supply” skeptics across the country who point to evidence that “safer supply” programs might be doing more harm than most are willing to admit.
Zivo’s article, which further explores how “safer supply” is impacting other communities, including Waterloo and London, Canada be read at the National Post here.
