In this episode, we discuss the opioid epidemic in Canada and the use of naloxone, a life-saving drug that is used to prevent death from opioid overdose, with pharmacists: Dr. Ross Tsuyuki and Mark Barnes.
- Dr. Ross Tsuyuki - professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
- Mark Barnes - owner of Respect Rx Pharmacies in Ottawa.
Our episode includes a discussion of:
- The extent of the opioid epidemic in Canada and how COVID-19 has impacted the number of opioid-related deaths.
- The use of the drug, naloxone, to prevent death from respiratory depression caused by opioid overdose. Naloxone is distributed as a nasal spray or injection kit and is supplied by pharmacists.
- The unique role of pharmacists in the distribution of naloxone for the fight against the opioid epidemic.
- Who should be given a naloxone kit and its relevance in general for anyone prescribed opioids.
- The development of the first published guidelines for Canadian pharmacists on prescribing naloxone. The guidelines can be found here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1715163520949973.
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