Pubdate: Wed, 23 Mar 2016
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Stephanie Ip
Page: 8

ANTI-OVERDOSE DRUG NALOXONE AVAILABLE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION

Naloxone, a drug used to treat overdoses, is now available in Canada
without a prescription, Health Canada announced Tuesday.

The news comes as Metro Vancouver drug users are being warned to be
cautious about bad batches of fentanyl and what's expected to be the
arrival of W-18, a painkiller that is up to 100 times stronger than
fentanyl, to B.C.

Also known as Narcan, Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of
opioids and can restore breathing within two to five minutes. Up until
now, the drug required a doctor's prescription. Tuesday, the health
authority shared the update in a notice posted to its website.

The change follows a public consultation launched in
January.

"Over 130 responses on the proposal of removing prescription status
for Naloxone when used outside hospital settings were received and all
were in favour," the notice read.

The responses came from social services and community groups,
health-care professionals, patient and parent organizations affected
by a death from opioid overdose, as well as various individuals from
across Canada.

The most common response received by Health Canada was a desire for a
more "user-friendly dosage form" since Naloxone is usually
administered with a syringe. If administered improperly using a
syringe, the drug's effectiveness may be reduced.

According to Hugh Lampkin, board member of the Vancouver Area Network
of Drug Users (VANDU), more than 400 VANDU members are currently
trained to administer Naloxone. In Surrey, about 50 to 75 volunteers
with the Surrey Area Network of Substance Users have been trained to
administer the drug.

In 2015, 465 illicit drug-overdose deaths were recorded in B.C.,
marking a 27-per-cent increase over the 366 deaths reported in the
previous year.
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MAP posted-by: Matt