Naloxone

As Canada finds itself amidst an evolving opioid public health crisis, including escalating mortality from overdose, the provision of ‘naloxone’ has been recognized as a key emergency measure and targeted tool to reverse opioid overdose and prevent mortality. Naloxone availability and distribution has evolved in different jurisdictions across Canada, in rather diversified ways; for example, federal and provincial legislation/regulations have been modified to expand naloxone distribution, and different naloxone distribution models and practices (e.g., injection/nasal; multiple availability sources; provision through first responders, peers, take-home programs) have been proposed or implemented in different jurisdictions, including provinces and/or municipalities. Through a CIHR-funded program, CRISM examined these issues through an Environmental Scan (completed 2019) and a Scoping Review (completed 2020) and produced a Best Practice Guideline.