Nova Scotia to offer free naloxone kits to the public as part of opioid response

Nova Scotians will have widespread access to the antidote for opioid overdoses as part of the provincial plan to address the drug problem that continues to grow across the country.

Free naloxone kits will be available at over 300 community pharmacies beginning Sept. 1, provincial Health Minister Randy Delorey said Wednesday.

“By putting naloxone in pharmacies, we want to make it accessible to everyone in a convenient and trusted location — one that doesn’t carry a stigma if you are to go in to visit,’’ said Delorey.

The move to expand the $564,000 antidote program originally announced in March, was presented as part of a new plan released in Halifax to address opioid use and overdoses.

The framework focuses on five key issues, including understanding the issue, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, prescribing practices and law enforcement.

“We may not be seeing the opioid use and overdose at the same levels here in Nova Scotia as we are seeing in other parts of Canada, but we do know the issue is growing and it is moving east,’’ said Delorey. “We are committed to doing what we can to address this serious issue.’’

According to provincial figures, there were 54 acute opioid overdose deaths in the province in 2016, with four involving illicit fentanyl and three others involving another powerful synthetic opioid, U-47700. Another 24 confirmed deaths and five probable deaths from opioid toxicity have been recorded so far this year.

Canada’s chief public health officer has said that if current abuse trends continue, the national death toll could top 3,000 this year.

Nova Scotia officials said deaths linked to opioid overdoses will be posted online as part of a wider public education effort.