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.
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MAP posted-by: Matt