Charter challenge

Four drug-addicted inmates in B.C. jails have launched a charter challenge to gain opiate addiction treatment, arguing they deserve the same health care they could access in the community.

The group contends that B.C. Corrections’ policies unconstitutionally block them from being prescribed methadone or suboxone if they don’t meet specific criteria. The inmates, Brian Cooper, Shawn Gillam, Nikola Skupnik and Troy Underhill, are in provincial custody either awaiting sentencing or remand.