Northern Ontario Police Report More Diverted Prescription Opioids in Drug Investigations

Police services in northern Ontario say prescription opioids are appearing more often in drug-trafficking investigations, according to a September 28 report by CBC News. The reporting raises practical questions for pharmacies about diversion risk, clinical continuity and communication with safer-supply prescribers.

What police told CBC

North Bay police told CBC that officers began noticing unusually large quantities of prescription opioids during investigations in 2023 and 2024. Hydromorphone and oxycodone were among the medicines seized. Investigators said labels were often removed or altered, limiting their ability to trace the medication to a particular prescription.

The Anishinabek Police Service also reported seizing almost 400 prescription-opioid tablets during a six-month investigation into trafficking affecting First Nation communities along provincial highways. Police described some regulated opioids as being sold or traded for other substances, with higher street prices in remote northern communities.

These are law-enforcement observations reported by CBC, not proof that every seized tablet originated in a prescribed safer-supply program or that diversion is representative of patients receiving this care. CBC identified the story as the first part of a series and said a follow-up would examine physicians’ concerns and the evolution of safer-supply prescribing.

Policy changed earlier this year

In June 2026, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario strengthened its Prescribing Drugs policy. Before initiating safer-supply narcotics, physicians must now complete an in-person comprehensive assessment and offer opioid agonist therapy. For ongoing safer-supply prescribing, an in-person assessment is required at least every three months.

The CPSO says the changes are intended to support evidence-informed care and reduce unintended harm, while acknowledging that prescribing rules alone cannot resolve either diversion or the toxic unregulated drug supply.

Pharmacy’s role requires both vigilance and continuity

The Ontario College of Pharmacists describes safer supply as prescribing pharmaceutical-grade opioids to people with opioid use disorder as an alternative to an unpredictable illegal supply. Pharmacy professionals must assess prescription authenticity and appropriateness, practise within their competence and collaborate with prescribers when concerns arise.

OCP’s opioid policy also expects regular two-way communication with prescribers, accurate narcotic reconciliation and security controls that reduce loss or diversion. A concern should trigger a proportionate clinical assessment—not assumptions about a patient, abrupt disruption of treatment or a blanket change to observed dosing that is not supported by the prescription and applicable requirements.

Practice guidance for pharmacists

• Assess every controlled-substance prescription for authenticity, therapeutic appropriateness, dosing directions, intervals and potential duplication before dispensing.
• Document objective concerns such as altered prescriptions, unexplained early requests, repeated losses, intoxication or inconsistent directions; avoid stigmatizing language and unsupported conclusions.
• Contact the prescriber promptly when clinical or diversion concerns require clarification, and agree on a safe plan that protects treatment continuity.
• Follow the prescription and current legal requirements for observed and take-home doses; do not impose a new supervision schedule solely because of a news report.
• Maintain narcotic reconciliation, time-delayed-safe procedures, loss or theft reporting, naloxone access and confidential patient counselling.