Distribution of Naloxone – Know The Laws Of Your Province

Where you can get naloxone kits for opioid overdose in your jurisdiction.

Although naloxone is a prescription drug, Health Canada allows it to be used on a non-prescription basis for responding to opioid overdose emergencies outside a hospital setting. In most provinces, Alberta and BC are the exceptions, naloxone can only be distributed by a pharmacy under a pharmacist’s jurisdiction. At the same time, most jurisdictions have also established a program for distributing naloxone kits via community organizations. (Note: The abbreviation “THN” refers to take-home naloxone kits).

Alberta: Alberta Health Services (AHS) oversees distribution of overdose response kits to Community Based Naloxone program distribution sites, including not only pharmacies but also shelters, walk-in clinics, rehab centres, harm reduction sites, emergency departments, corrections facilities, and other community organizations

BC: BC Centres for Disease Control (BCCDC) oversees distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including pharmacies as well as shelters, clinics, health and rehab centres, harm reduction sites, emergency departments, corrections facilities, other community organizations.

Manitoba: Street Connections, a harm reduction site run by Winnipeg Regional Healthy Authority, oversees and administers the Manitoba Take-Home Naloxone (MBTHN) program, which distributes naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including pharmacies, walk-in clinics, health, treatment and rehab centres, harm reduction sites, emergency departments and other community organizations

New Brunswick: Department of Health’s Take-Home Naloxone program distributes kits via a limited number of community organizations registered as distribution sites in the province.

Newfoundland: Regional health authorities oversee distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including corrections facilities, health centres, treatment and rehab centres and other community organizations

Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) oversees distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including pharmacies, health centres, and other community organizations

Ontario: Under Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP), naloxone nasal spray kits are distributed by Public Health Unit catchment areas distribute naloxone kits PHUs via community-based organizations and participating pharmacies in the catchment area

Prince Edward Island: PEI Department of Health and Wellness oversees distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including needle exchange sites, health and rehab centres and other community organizations.

Quebec: Under the Quebec THN Program, the first in Canada, naloxone is distributed via over 900 distribution sites, all of them pharmacies

Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) orders THN kits from a SHA pharmacy and coordinates distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including clinics, health and rehab centres and harm reduction sites

Northwest Territories: Territorial Health Authority oversees THN distribution program, which acts as the central distributor of nasal spray THN kits to other distribution sites, including all the pharmacies in the territory and other health and community organizations

Nunavut: Department of Health oversees distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, which is either a health centre or hospital

Yukon: Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator oversees distribution of naloxone kits to THN distribution sites, including pharmacies and health centres