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The characteristics and experiences of parents accessing prescribed safer supply in BC, 2020-2021

Katherine Hogan1,2, Celeste Macevicius1, Taija McLuckie1

  • 1Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC, V8N 5M8, Canada.

Harm Reduction Journal
|May 11, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Parents accessing prescribed safer supply (PSS) face unique barriers, including time demands and fear of child welfare involvement. Addressing these challenges is crucial for inclusive, parent-centered care in substance use treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Addiction Medicine
  • Sociology

Background:

  • British Columbia introduced prescribed safer supply (PSS) in 2020 to mitigate harms from the illicit drug supply.
  • Emerging evidence exists for PSS programs, but parental experiences and specific barriers remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the experiences of parents accessing or attempting to access PSS.
  • To identify differences in barriers faced by parents compared to non-parents.

Main Methods:

  • A mixed-methods approach using secondary data analysis from an evaluation of PSS.
  • Descriptive analysis of a cross-sectional survey (n=353) on barriers to PSS.
  • Thematic analysis of interviews with parents (n=16) focusing on their PSS experiences.

Main Results:

  • 31.4% of survey participants were parents of children under 19.
  • Parents were significantly more likely than non-parents to report being too busy (41.4% vs. 25.4%).
  • Parents cited unique motivations (e.g., participating in children's lives) and policy barriers (e.g., fear of child welfare reports, time conflicts).

Conclusions:

  • Parents encounter distinct interpersonal motivations and policy-related challenges in accessing PSS.
  • Findings underscore the need for parent-centered, inclusive care models that address stigma and punitive responses to families with substance use issues.
  • Supportive approaches are needed across the continuum of care to better integrate families.
Abstract

Keywords:
British Columbia, CanadaChild welfare systemHarm reductionParentingPrescribed safer supplySubstance use

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