B.C. supports federal push to make overdose drug naloxone available without prescription

In the wake of a rash of overdose deaths in cities acrossthe countrymany suspected to be caused by the opioidfentanylthe federalgovernment wants to make sure medication that could have prevented those deaths is closer at hand forCanadians.

Naloxone has been described as a wonder drug, one that can reverse the effects of overdoses fromopiates and opioids andtheir synthetic counterparts including heroin and fentanyl.

• Fentanyl overdoses pull moms together
• Naloxone, fentanyl antidote, available in take-home kits, havesavedhundreds of lives

Usedpredominantlyin hospitals viainjection, the medication is currentlyavailable for publicpurchase only throughprescriptions. Health Canada is proposing to make it available todrug users and their familiesover the counter.

The B.C. government has expressedsupport forthe initiative.

"We view this as a very positive move, and in fact have been asking Health Canada to expedite their review for some time," said B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake in a statement.

"By removing the prescription-only status of naloxone, it removes a significant barrier to access. It will mean more people are able to access this life-saving treatment."

DanReist with the Centre for Addictions Research ofB.C.believes Naloxone'sbenefits are obvious.

"If I go through a red light, somebody else applying the brakes so as not to collide into me is mitigating damage. I made a mistakethat could have been very tragic and yetthey stopped themistake,"saysReist. "That's how weshould lookat Naloxone."

'Wonder drug' could curb fentanyl deaths

In December 2015there were eight deaths in Victoria in the span of a weekbelievedto be caused by overdoses. With naloxone, some ofthose deaths might have been preventable.

"Virtually all [opiate] overdosescan be prevented with naloxone, if it's readily available," says Reist.

In April of last year, 21-year-oldJennifer Woodside's son Dylan took an oxycontin pill laced with fentanyl and died. She's since calledfor wider access to naloxone.

"It would have saved his life, he had classic symptoms of overdosing," she told the CBC's Gloria Mackarenkoin a recent interview.

Health Canadais expected toconsult on the change until the middle of March.