B.C. naturopaths hope to prescribe safer supply medications

published on February 14, 2024 by Andrea Woo in Globe and Mail

Hundreds of British Columbia naturopaths want to be able to prescribe “safer supply” and other medications to treat substance-use disorders and be part of the response to the province’s toxic drug crisis, as their profession is not given such powers by existing regulation.

The BC Naturopathic Doctors Association said in a news release Thursday that more than 250 naturopathic doctors have enrolled in a provincial education and training program to prescribe common medications for opioid use disorder, such as methadone. Fifty members in 30 communities have already started training, the association says.

Vanessa Lindsay, BCND president and a Vancouver-based naturopath, has also written to B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside seeking such prescribing powers. On Wednesday, Ms. Whiteside replied to say the proposal had been forwarded to Health Minister Adrian Dix, who is responsible for the scope of practice of regulated health professionals under the Health Professions Act…