Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has announced a new public health order to increase the number of health professionals authorized to help people at risk for overdose access safer alternatives.
This comes as B.C. continues to fight the growing overdose crisis. The order issued under the Health Professions Act authorizes registered nurses and psychiatric nurses to prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs. This is all in an effort to separate people from the increasingly toxic drug supply.
New nursing standards will be introduced along with training and education and access to expert consultation and other pathways to connect people to other primary and addictions care. Under the new directive, which is expected to be finalized and released soon, doctors, pharmacists and nurses will have the types of medications they can prescribe and dispense carefully expanded. As well as increasing access points to allow for the dispensing of medication.
The policy will continue to place a strong emphasis on clinicians working with people who use drugs on their individual goals and opportunities.
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