In British Columbia:
Naloxone is available without a prescription. Naloxone will only work on opioid-related overdoses, though it will not cause harm if a person hasn’t taken opioids.
B.C. has a Take Home Naloxone program in place to reduce the harm and deaths associated with opioid overdoses. The program provides training in overdose prevention, recognition, and first aid response.
You are eligible for the Take Home Naloxone program if you:
- Have a history of using substances, particularly heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
- Are likely to witness and respond to an overdose (not including health care professionals or clinics for staff use on patients).
- Are First Nations’ and living in BC. The First Nations Health Authority’s First Nations Health Benefits plan will cover the cost of injectable and nasal spray forms of naloxone. You can find more info here: (link2)
If you are eligible for the Take Home Naloxone program, you can receive a naloxone kit at no cost, as well as overdose prevention and response training, at any program site.
Visit the Toward the Heart site locator or call 8-1-1 anytime day or night to find a site near you.
“Naloxone kits will be available at all London Drugs pharmacies across the province empowering as many individuals as possible to respond in the event of an overdose.”
– Chris Chiew, London Drugs, pharmacy general manager