The life-saving drug naloxone will not be made widely available for free in Nova Scotia pharmacies by the promised Sept. 1 deadline, a provincial official has confirmed.
According to an email from spokesperson Brian Taylor, the province is working with the Pharmacies Association of Nova Scotia (PANS) and the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) to make naloxone kits available as soon as possible.
Last month, the province announced the kits would be made available for free at more than 300 pharmacies starting Sept. 1, as part of its new opioid use and overdose framework in an effort to address both issues. It was an expansion of the $564,000 antidote program first announced earlier this year.
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READ MORE: Nova Scotia opioid use, overdose framework includes free naloxone access
In his email, Taylor recognized providing the kits was a key part of the framework, but the province, PANS and NSHA still have to “finalize the last few details.”
Naloxone has been shown to have saved at least 40 lives in the province since January 2016. The drug works by blocking the effects opioids can have on the body.
So far, naloxone kits have been provided to 130 sheriffs, 86 corrections officers and 1,900 police officers across the province, and take-home naloxone kits have been given to offenders when they reintegrate back into the community.
Once naloxone kits are available in pharmacies, the province says it will notify the public.
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