Claire Rattée, MLA for Skeena and Critic for Mental Health, Addictions, and Housing Supports/BC Legislature

By Vernon Matters Staff

drug use

Critics claims new safe drug rules show government got it wrong

Dec 30, 2025 | 4:09 PM

The opposition BC Conservatives are calling the new witnessed-consumption rules for B.C.’s prescribed safer drug supply program an admission the governing NDP were wrong.

The new rules take effect December 30.

Conservative Critic for Mental Health, Addictions and Housing Supports Claire Rattée said “…the change confirms the NDP government ignored years of warnings and allowed a failed policy experiment to continue long after its harms were clear.”

In a media statement, Rattée said “…if the government now admits that supervision is necessary to prevent harm, why was this program expanded in the first place, and why does it continue at all?”

She said as of Tuesday, “…the NDP is quietly admitting what families, frontline workers, and the Opposition have been saying all along: handing out take-home opioids without supervision was reckless.”

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Earlier this month the province announced all prescribed alternatives (PAs) must be consumed under the direct supervision of a health professional. The requirement aimed to ensure these medications are used by their intended recipients as part of harm reduction strategies and help prevent diversion to illicit markets. It applies to benzodiazepines and stimulants when used for PA, as well as opioids.