As
of June 24, 2016 naloxone, when indicated for emergency use for opioid
overdose outside hospital settings, is available to any patient or
patient’s agent from community pharmacists without a
prescription.
Pharmacists
are authorized to dispense any formulation of naloxone available for
sale and distribution in Canada. The College is aware that the
nasal spray formulation of naloxone hydrochloride, Narcan®, is permitted
to be imported and sold in Canada as of July 6, 2016. Pharmacists may
access naloxone through regular distribution channels or U.S.
distributers as per Health Canada’s requirements for importing and selling Narcan®. The Ontario Pharmacists Association may be an additional source of information regarding sourcing supplies for pharmacy-assembled take-home naloxone kits.
When
dispensing any formulation of naloxone, pharmacists are expected to
practice in accordance with all of the requirements outlined in the College’s Guidance – Dispensing or Selling Naloxone.
It is the professional responsibility of a pharmacist to ensure
that he or she has sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities to
competently deliver any pharmacy service. The College has included
links to external training resources for pharmacists to ensure they are prepared to safely and effectively provide naloxone to a patient or patient's agent.