More Than a Pipe Dream? The Need to Adapt Safer Opioid Supply Programs for People Who Smoke Drugs

Abstract

Safer opioid supply programs are being expanded in select Canadian cities as interventions to provide alternatives to the toxic drug supply. Programs primarily provide tablet hydromorphone for patients to consume orally, intranasally, or intravenously. However, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, smoking is the most common mode of consumption among those who have died from illicit drug overdoses. There is a need for these programs to provide smokable opioid alternatives in order to attract and retain those most at risk of overdose mortality.