Opioid antidote naloxone now available free at all N.W.T. pharmacies

Naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is now available for free at all retail pharmacies across the Northwest Territories.

Although naloxone has been available in the North, before, only injectable kits were available and its availability wasn't widely known according to Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief public health officer for the N.W.T.

• Anti-overdose drug naloxone still not widely available in the North

"It's safe by itself, you can't overdose or [have] adverse effects from the antidote," he said.

"Making it more freely available might save lives so for that reason alone, it's viewed as best practice now in this context."

In November, eight near-fatal opioid overdoses were treated within 48 hours at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. The overdoses are thought to be linked to a batch of hyper-potent street fentanyl. 

Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse an overdose of fentanyl or other opioids, allowing the patient time to get emergency medical help.

There are two forms of naloxone available at pharmacies, Take Home Injection Naloxone Kits and Take Home Intranasal Naloxone.

The intranasal spray is available at all N.W.T. retail pharmacies as of Monday. The Department of Health and Social Services will also begin distributing injection kits to pharmacies, health centres, clinics, hospitals starting Wednesday.

Nasal spray available, injectable kits coming

There is a limited supply of nasal spray, but Corriveau said it should tide people over until the injectable kits are distributed.

"The injectable is not much different than people who have an EpiPen — it's the same kind of idea," he said. "It takes somebody who is alert at the time when the overdose happens, but it can save somebody's life if you have it there."

Pharmacist Aaron LaBorde at Sutherland's Drugs in Yellowknife says making naloxone widely available in the community is needed after the recent overdoses. LaBorde encourages anyone to pick up a take home naloxone kit, or learn more about it.

"Even if a person doesn't think they have an immediate need for one of them, if they do have a family member or someone they know that might have to use it, it's worthwhile stopping by and talking to a pharmacist."

The Department of Health and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority has also established an Opioid Task Force made up of members from the health department, the authority and outside agencies. It is aimed at reducing the risk of opioid abuse in the territory.