HEALTH

Health Canada reviews prescription status of drug that counters opioid ODs

Helen Branswell The Canadian Press
Published Friday, July 24, 2015 2:44PM EDT

This May 13, 2015 file photo, shows the contents of a drug overdose rescue kit at a training session on how to administer naloxone, which reverses the effects of heroin and prescription painkillers. (AP/Carolyn Thompson)

Text:

TORONTO -- Health Canada is reviewing the prescription-only status of an antidote used to treat drug overdoses.

Naloxone counteracts the effects of opioid drugs such as heroin or oxycodone.

Also known as Narcan, the drug can be used to save the life of someone who has overdosed.

The drug, which is given by injection, is currently only available by prescription.

But a number of provinces and cities have started programs in which they give out kits containing naloxone and syringes to opioid users or their families and friends.

Health Canada says it has been asked by several provinces to drop the drug's prescription status and it is exploring the possibility.

The idea would be to treat naloxone like EpiPens and insulin, the department suggests in a press release.