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Health Canada is expediting the approval of naloxone nasal spray.
Naloxone is a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is currently only available in an injectable form in Canada.
The nasal spray, which is easier to administer, is available in the United States.
“The number of opioid overdoses in Canada is nothing short of a public health crisis,” health minister Jane Philpott said. “First responders, police and family members need immediate access to formats of naloxone that are easy to use so that needless deaths can be prevented. Extraordinary measures are required to address this crisis, so I have asked my department to conduct an expedited review of nasal naloxone for sale in Canada, and to enact this temporary measure that allows access to a product from the US while our review is underway.”
The nasal spray will be provided alongside English and French instructions for use. Besides making Narcan nasal spray available, Canada’s government has been educating citizens about safe use, storage and disposal of prescription drugs while increasing inspections to keep drugs from being diverted from pharmacies and improving surveillance data on prescription drug abuse. The government has also been working with First Nations communities to enhance prevention and treatment of opioid-related issues.
Agencies/Canadajournal
