More than a dozen Canadian medical doctors specializing in addiction have written the federal government to voice their opposition to the “safe supply” of drugs like hydromorphone and opioids.

“’Safe Supply’ is a nice marketing slogan. The reality is it is not safe,” said the 17 doctors who signed the Sept. 25 letter, sent to Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks.

“It is harmful to give people addicted to opioids almost unlimited access to free opioids. It is harmful to our communities for inexpensive pharmaceutical grade opioids to be flooding our streets,” the letter said.

“We are a group of experienced Canadian Addiction Medicine physicians who are calling on the government to ensure that all hydromorphone prescribed to people with addiction is provided in a supervised fashion or that funding cease for this harmful practice.”