Naloxone kits fly off pharmacy's shelves after reports of Kanata overdoses

AnOttawapharmacy is reporting a big run on naloxone kitsfollowing reports this week of drug overdoses among teenagers in Kanata.

Since last June when the province loosened the rules around naloxone, Respect RxPharmasaveinVanierhas given away more than 800 nalaxone kits including 100 at a meeting for parents Thursday night in Kanataand 50 more Friday at the pharmacy.

Owner Mark Barnes saidsince that Kanata meeting, 300 people have also called asking for training on how to administerthe drug, which blocks or reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.

He saidthe kits were mostlybeing taken by injection drug users, butnowa broadrange of people have come in looking for naloxone.

"Both users, and parents and friends of opioid users aretaking the initiative to prevent [an] overdose, which I think is remarkable" he said.

Ottawa Public Health also promoting the kits

Ottawa Public Health isalso promoting the kits,trying to get them into schools, bars, concert venues and homes anywhere a person might overdose.

The health agency has now listedon its website the 80-plus pharmacies in Ottawa where naloxone is available.

Barnes saidevery parent with teenage childrenshould have a kit.

He saidwith the added risks of pills being laced with fentanyl, anyone taking counterfeit percocetsor other fake pills should never take the drug alone.

If out with a group, he saidpeople taking those pills shouldmake sure at least one person does not take any drugsand has a naloxone kit with them.

"I think it's the mission of the Ministry (of Health)to haveone of these kits in everyone's hands," Barnes said.

All anyoneneeds to do toget the kit istake a 15 minute training session at the pharmacyand show an Ontario health card.

Barnes saidhe still has a good supply of the free kits, as do other pharmacies around Ottawa.