Health Canada allows immediate access to Narcan nasal spray

OTTAWA — Canada’s minister of health on Wednesday signed an interim order that will bring immediate access to Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray. The order allows the nasal spray, made by Adapt Pharma, to be imported from the U.S. and sold in Canda, where only the injectable version of the opioid overdose reversal drug had been available. 

 

Health Canada is currently reviewing an application for the nasal spray’s authorization to be sold in the country, but health minister Jane Philpott said the interim order will ensure access during the review period and potentially save lives. 

 

“The number of opioid overdoses in Canada is nothing short of a public health crisis,” 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.