Pubdate: Sun, 17 Jan 2016 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2016 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Page: A10 Battling Overdoses EXTENDING A LIFELIFE It's an obvious life-saving measure that should have been delivered long ago. And it still hasn't arrived. But Health Canada is at least moving toward making naloxone more readily available to treat people who overdose on opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. The federal health department has proposed making this highly effective antidote a non-prescription drug, with officials launching a consultation process this past week to gather public input on such a move. If that goes well naloxone could be available, prescription-free, before the end of this year. Public health advocates, outreach workers and families of the addicted have long called for this change, arguing that naloxone is too important a life-saver to remain available by prescription only. It's especially the case given a shocking increase in fatal overdoses across Canada. Fentanyl alone is believed to have been a factor in 655 deaths in this country between 2009 and 2014, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. And Toronto Public Health officials reported just last fall that drug overdose deaths in Canada's largest city had hit a record high, with more than 200 lives lost over the course of a single year. Heavier use of opioids was deemed a major factor in that increase. These drugs kill by shutting down a victim's breathing and a timely dose of naloxone can instantly block that effect, similar to the way an Epi Pen short-circuits a dangerous allergic reaction. Efforts have been made to get naloxone where it's needed with Toronto Public Health, for example, training volunteers including current and former drug users to administer a treatment if they encounter someone in the grip of an overdose. In Alberta naloxone kits are issued through methadone clinics and hospitals to help people deemed at high risk. Harm-reduction experts, however, have often raised the benefit of making naloxone more readily accessible through pharmacies. It's not clear exactly how an over-the-counter version would be sold. Health Canada officials have indicated that some training on its deployment would likely be necessary, similar to the way people need instruction on using an Epi Pen. But that shouldn't present a huge barrier. There aren't many drugs in modern medicine's tool kit that can instantly deliver someone from the brink of death. Naloxone does precisely that, and it only makes sense to keep this life-saver more readily at hand. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt