Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry is promising to release a commissioned report looking into the economics of safe supply.
香蕉视频直播淯nder the independent authority of my office, I commissioned a research paper looking at some of the societal impacts of pharmaceutical alternatives (safe supply),香蕉视频直播� she said in a statement shared with media. 香蕉视频直播淭his included an economic analysis to help guide appropriate monitoring of the impacts of a safe supply program 香蕉视频直播� a research paper prepared by Dr. (Jonathan) Caulkins.香蕉视频直播�
The paper itself is part of Henry香蕉视频直播檚 larger review of the safe supply program announced in February.
香蕉视频直播淥ur next report on pharmaceutical alternatives (safer supply) programs will be available next month,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e plan to make it public once complete and once my office has had an opportunity to brief the government. As usual, all research related to this work will also be publicly available.香蕉视频直播�
Henry香蕉视频直播檚 statement said that Caulkins香蕉视频直播� report is just one aspect of the review.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important that the economics of the drug market are taken into consideration as we investigate further, such as monitoring the price paid at various levels and purity of illegal drugs to understand how B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 situation might align with or differ from scenarios described in the report,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Henry said that Caulkins香蕉视频直播� research is not 香蕉视频直播渁n assessment or evaluation香蕉视频直播� of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 approach to safer supply.
香蕉视频直播淭he paper represents the views and observations of the author,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t does not represent the views or positions of the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.香蕉视频直播�
Henry said her office is also working with other experts in the field including the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research based at the University of Victoria. 香蕉视频直播淭hey have provided a literature review so we have a comprehensive understanding of what香蕉视频直播檚 happening globally on this issue,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Caulkins comes highly credentialed. He holds a doctorate in Operations Research from MIT and teaches at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, where he 香蕉视频直播渟pecializes in systems analysis of problems pertaining to drugs, crime, terror, violence and prevention,香蕉视频直播� according to his biography.
Caulkins has co-authored several books, published a long list of peer-reviewed academic articles and has appeared frequently in media on both side of the U.S.-Canada border, either as a commentator or as an author himself.
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Caulkins香蕉视频直播� paper has been the source of much speculation during the last 24 hours in the provincial legislature after B.C. United had mentioned it during Monday香蕉视频直播檚 Question Period, first describing it inaccurately as a 香蕉视频直播渟ecret memo香蕉视频直播� commissioned by the Premier香蕉视频直播檚 Office.
Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said Monday during Question Period she was unaware of the report, but told reporters Tuesday morning that Henry had comissioned it. Speaking at an unrelated event in Abbotsford Tuesday morning, Eby said he first heard of Caulkins香蕉视频直播� name during Question Period.
香蕉视频直播淲e followed up and learnt that Dr. Henry had commissioned a paper from this individual as part of a larger piece of work that she continues to do on the toxic drug crisis, hearing from all different perspectives about the best path forward for British Columbia,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Eby said this work falls within Henry香蕉视频直播檚 role as independent public health officer, but added that there 香蕉视频直播渙ccasionally moments of frustration like yesterday when the officer is doing work that we are not aware of.香蕉视频直播�
Health Minister Adrian Dix Tuesday chided the opposition for misrepresenting the report and said the public knew that Henry was going to do an at-large-review of the safe supply program. He also confirmed in Question Period that the report would be available. He said that himself has not seen the report, but added that he is familiar with Caulkins香蕉视频直播� work.
B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 United Elenore Sturko called for full transparency given the various issues around decriminalization and the diversion of safe supply as reported by two senior B.C. police officers.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 incredibly important for that information to be transparent for the public,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e are at a time where our province is at a critical moment香蕉视频直播nd frankly, I think it is a failure of leadership that the ministers and the premier did not know about this report.香蕉视频直播�
