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By Canadian Press

Saskatchewan government to expand naloxone kit access

Sep 2, 2020 | 10:23 AM

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s health minister says the government will expand access to the life-saving antidote naloxone.

But Jim Reiter says it still hasn’t been decided how that will happen.

Like most provinces, Saskatchewan funds a take-home naloxone kit program for people at risk of an opioid overdose or of witnessing one.

The Ministry of Health says these kits are distributed at health centres and harm reduction organizations, but not community pharmacies.

The Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan says pharmacies should join the program, because they have expanded hours and are located in most areas of the province.

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Jason Mercredi is the executive director of Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon, and says the demand for naloxone has exploded because of a spike in overdoses.

The province’s chief coroner, Clive Weighill, says the deadly opioid fentanyl and its derivatives, mixed in with other illicit drugs, is driving the increase.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2020.

The Canadian Press