The status of naloxone in community pharmacies across Canada

So, Randy; Hamarneh, Yazid N. Al; Barnes, Mark; Beazely, Michael A.; Boivin, Michael; Laroche, Julie; Patel, Harsit; Sihota, Aaron; Smith, T. J.; Tsuyuki, Ross T.

doi:10.1177/1715163520958435

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(20 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In Canada, two formulations of naloxone are available, intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN). IM naloxone is publicly funded in all provinces and territories, but IN naloxone is publicly funded in only Ontario, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories [10]. Access to these kits is highly variable as the programs are managed at the provincial level [9,10].…”

Section: Take-home Naloxone In Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…IM naloxone is publicly funded in all provinces and territories, but IN naloxone is publicly funded in only Ontario, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories [10]. Access to these kits is highly variable as the programs are managed at the provincial level [9,10]. For example, one can receive a free take-home naloxone (THN) kit at over 1000 distribution sites in Alberta, but there are over 3000 sites in Ontario [10,11].…”

Section: Take-home Naloxone In Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Protocol for the Optimizing Naloxone Dispensing in Pharmacies (ONDP) Online Continuing Education Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The number of opioid-related deaths in Canada has steadily increased since 2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this trend. Naloxone has been pivotal for reducing opioid-related harms and death, and pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring the supply of naloxone to Canadians through community pharmacies. However, naloxone dispensing by pharmacists is not optimal; in fact, in Ontario, only 50% of pharmacists offer naloxone, despite national guidelines that pharmacists should offer naloxone to everyone with an opioid prescription. When asked why pharmacists do not proactively offer naloxone, recent research has identified that pharmacists need continuing education to boost confidence and knowledge on how to start conversations with patients. The study involves a delayed start, double-blind randomized controlled trial, for Canadian licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The goals of the program are to increase Canadian pharmacy professional’s knowledge, confidence, and motivation to proactively offer naloxone, as well as to decrease stigma associated with naloxone. The program incorporates behaviour change techniques from the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The intervention program includes three modules that focus on improving pharmacists’ communication skills by teaching them how to proactively offer naloxone, while the control group will complete a reading assignment on the naloxone consensus guidelines. The program will involve a process and outcome evaluation in addition to a contribution analysis. This program is important for breaking down previously identified barriers and knowledge gaps for why pharmacists currently do not proactively offer naloxone. This study will provide important new information about what behaviour change techniques are successful in improving confidence and motivation in the pharmacy profession and in an online environment. Findings from this study can be used to produce a national naloxone education program that can also be implemented into current pharmacy school curriculum.

show abstract

Section: Take-home Naloxone In Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Take-home Naloxone In Canadamentioning

confidence: 99%

Protocol for the Optimizing Naloxone Dispensing in Pharmacies (ONDP) Online Continuing Education Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Both an intramuscular injection and intranasal spray are available, although free access to both dosage forms varies across provinces and territories. 4 Many opioid-associated deaths involve unregulated fentanyl; however, prescription opioids are a key cause of opioid overdoses. 5 Over 75% of individuals who experience opioid toxicity received an opioid prescription in the last 3 years 6 : Each one of these individuals could have been offered a naloxone kit when receiving their prescription.…”

Section: Pharmd Mscmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both an intramuscular injection and intranasal spray are available, although free access to both dosage forms varies across provinces and territories. 4…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The opioid crisis: Naloxone and pharmacists to the rescue

Beazely¹,

Tsuyuki²

2021

Can Pharm J

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Both intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) naloxone are freely available (paid for by government) in Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories (NWT), while other provinces only provide IM naloxone for free. 1 Even when naloxone is provided to the public for free, access varies. 2 For example, only half of all pharmacies in Ontario dispensed naloxone in 2018, and a third of the kits dispensed were from pharmacies in large urban centers.…”

Section: Do All Canadians Have Access To Naloxone?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequently asked questions about naloxone: Part 1

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Are patients and community members asking complicated questions about naloxone? The goal of this 3-part informational series is to increase pharmacists' knowledge on the frequently asked questions about naloxone, so that they can fill their own knowledge gaps as well as those of their patients. Pharmacists are key to ensuring all those at risk of an opioid overdose, or who are in a position to help, have naloxone and know how to use it. Beyond the signs and symptoms of opioid toxicity, naloxone administration, and the importance of calling 911, pharmacists can also be a resource for emerging research about naloxone and countering myths about it. In this series, we will be addressing real-world questions from pharmacists, service providers and community members about naloxone.

show abstract

The status of naloxone in community pharmacies across Canada

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

Protocol for the Optimizing Naloxone Dispensing in Pharmacies (ONDP) Online Continuing Education Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Protocol for the Optimizing Naloxone Dispensing in Pharmacies (ONDP) Online Continuing Education Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The opioid crisis: Naloxone and pharmacists to the rescue

Frequently asked questions about naloxone: Part 1

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About