Naloxone should be available over the counter, Health Canada says

The overdose antidotenaloxone could soon be available without a prescription, Health Canada says.

That change would reassurefamilies and friends of drugs users, said Darlene MacAulay-Boutilier, whosefriend Julie Bolanddied from an overdose in October.

"I'm so thrilled. This is an amazing step forward," MacAulay-Boutilier said Friday. "Unfortunately it hasn't come fast enough for my friend, but it's going to come and it's going to save the lives of many other people."

In the coming weeks,drug users in two Nova Scotia communitieswill be able toreceive prescriptions for take-home kits of naloxone, so they can inject the antidote into someone who overdoseson fentanyl, morphine or other opiates.

But families and friends who want to obtain naloxone won't have that chance to save a loved one, MacAulay-Boutilier said.

"Right now, as we're spinning our wheels, that chance is being taken away from other people."

If it becomes available without a prescription, she said,she'll get it just in case for other people,even though her friend is gone.

"It was hours before she received medical attention," MacAulay-Boutilier said. "She could have still been with us here today."

Families could help drug users

Harm reduction advocates have wanted the antidote to be more easily availableas well, including the staff physician at Halifax's Direction 180, a methadone clinic.

"Families are excited about the possibility that they might have something in their home that might contribute a little bit to being able to help their loved one," David Saunders said.

Overdose deaths don'thappen only at parties or on the street, Saunders said.

"Overthe last three or fouryears there have been multiple cases of people who have died at home or close to home with family members," Saunders said.

"Other than calling 911 and trying to access help, [they] have their hands tied. There's nothing they can do."

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That could soon change. Health Canada says it's concerned a growing number of peopleare dying from opioid overdoses. The department is proposingto make naloxone an over-the-counter drug.

The move is a"great step in broadening expansion or access, but it is not a silver bullet," said Cindy MacIsaac, executive director ofDirection 180.

She wants Health Canada toapprove a nasal spray version of the drug, a step taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November. Naloxonealso should beadded to the provincialformularyso that its cost is covered byPharmacare, MacIsaac said.

Fentanyl overdose threat

Amy Graves, whose brother died from a drug overdose, says shebelieves Health Canada's move is inresponse to an alarming number offentanyl-relateddeaths.

"I'm very pleased to see the progress beingmadetowards better access tonaloxone," Graves said.

As the founder of Get Prescription Drugs Off the Street, she saidthe root cause of opioid overdoses which she saidis the over-prescribing of painkillersneeds to be addressed.

Fast-track for decision

Health Canada is asking Canadians to give input on the proposed changeuntil March 19.

"If the change in status continues to be supported by the evidence and input received during the consultation, the change will be finalized," a department statement issued Thursday said.

The department is prepared to fast-track the change by waiving the standard six-month implementation period, the statement said.

That can't happen soon enough for Saunders. He said family members, like drug users, will need training on how to administer naloxone and how to spot signs of an overdose.

Saunders saidit's logical that naloxone should be widely available, asthere isplenty of evidence to show that it's a safe and potentially life-saving drug.