Alberta Distributes Kits To Stop Overdoses In Fight Against Illicit Fentanyl

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Feb, 2016 11:34 AM

EDMONTON — The Alberta government is expanding its program to try to save those overdosing on illicit fentanyl.

Associate Health Minister Brandy Payne says the government is now making naloxone kits available free of charge at pharmacies for those with a prescription.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose and save a person's life.

Payne says so far, 300 pharmacies have signed on to provide the kits and train people how to use them.

The province is dealing with a crisis of overdose deaths related to fentanyl, which is normally used as a very powerful pain reducer.

The government reports 272 Albertans died from fentanyl overdoses in 2015 — more than double the total of the previous year.

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