Ontario has become the first Canadian province to provide access to NARCAN Nasal Spray free of charge through pharmacies as part of its Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies (ONPP).
Adapt Pharma's NARCAN (naloxone) Nasal Spray 4mg will now be accessible to all Ontario residents through local pharmacies, with timing to be confirmed.
"Getting naloxone kits into the hands of the public and providing training has always been my mission, and the inclusion of NARCAN Nasal Spray in the Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies will help Ontarians with their fight against the opioid crisis," said Mark Barnes, Pharmacist at Respect Rx Pharmasave, Ottawa. "Because NARCAN is a nasal spray that makes it easy for anyone to administer during an opioid overdose situation, especially if panic sets in. The fact that it contains 4mg of naloxone is positive, given the strength of opioids currently in our communities."
NARCAN Nasal Spray 4mg is the first and only needle-free formulation of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. It does not require assembly or any specialized medical training and is also the highest concentrated dose of intranasal naloxone currently available.
Anyone who is personally, or has loved ones, who may be exposed to opioid drugs, can now get access to NARCAN Nasal Spray to have on-hand in the event they are confronted with an emergency situation. Households, workplaces and public institutions (libraries, sports facilities etc.) should be equipped with naloxone on-hand as part of their first aid kits as it could help during an opioid overdose. While naloxone does not reduce the effects of overdose by other drugs, giving naloxone to a person who isn't having an opioid overdose is unlikely to cause more harm.
Pharmacies will be able to obtain NARCAN Nasal Spray from their regular distributors. For further information on this, please visit the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
Naloxone Hydrochloride Nasal Spray is a pure opioid antagonist indicated for emergency use outside of a hospital to reverse known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or severe central nervous system depression.
Naloxone Hydrochloride Nasal Spray can be administered by a bystander (non-health care professional) before emergency medical assistance becomes available, but it is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Emergency medical assistance (calling 911) should be requested immediately when an opioid overdose is suspected, before administering naloxone.
NARCAN Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care, and additional doses of NARCAN Nasal Spray may be required until emergency medical assistance arrives. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance.