UW study shows Ontario is getting it right when it comes to its free naloxone program

The opioid epidemic is widely considered one of the largest public health crisis the country has ever faced.

A recent study from the University of Waterloo showed the use of naloxone, administered by nasal spray, saves more lives. It is also cost effective.

Researchers looked at the differences between the use of intranasal naloxone as compared to injected or intramuscular naloxone. They found that intranasal naloxone was more likely to be used in an overdose situation than the injectable type, simply because of ease of use.

When you add in the fact nasal naloxone kits are available for free at most pharmacies, use only increases.

Currently, only Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories offer free nasal naloxone kits. Other provinces offer free intramuscular kits. That includes British Columbia and Alberta, who along with Ontario, account for close to 88 per cent of all opioid-related overdose deaths in Canada.

Researchers believe a national publicly funded, free nasal naloxone program is the way to go. Making it more widely available would save more lives and cost less than the current program.

Right now, Waterloo Region is dealing with an increase in suspected opioid-related deaths. The Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy extended a Community Drug Alert after five suspected opioid deaths were reported between Mar. 26 and Apr. 5. That follows three deaths reported between Mar. 19 and Mar. 25.

The study, An economic evaluation of community pharmacy dispensed naloxone in Canada, was recently published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal.