Commentary
by
Duthie, Katherine, Eric Mathison, Helgi Eyford & S Monty Ghosh
Release Date
2022
Geography
Canada
Language of Resource
English
Full Text Available
No
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
No
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Objective
One form of safe supply enlists clinicians to prescribe opioids so that people have access to drugs of known composition and strength. In this paper, we assess the ethical case for clinicians providing this service.
Findings/Key points
As we describe, there is much that is unknown about safe supply. However, given the seriousness of the overdose death epidemic and the current limited evidence for safe supply’s efficacy, we argue that it is ethically permissible for clinicians to begin prescribing opioids for some select patients.
Keywords
Safer supply
About prescribers
Harm reduction
Clinical guidance
