November 10, 2017
The government of Quebec has just announced that an antidote to Fentanyl would be made available to the public, to prevent overdoses and deaths linked to this drug. This is nalaxone.
Nalaxone, antidote for Fentanyl
The cases of death linked to overdoses of Fentanyl, of the opioid family, have sharply increased in many cities in Quebec and the government wants to stop this phenomenon. It has made nalaxone available in 1,900 pharmacies since November 9, an effective antidote against this dangerous drug. It would be enough to ingest the equivalent of two grains of salt of this substance to die.
” Essentially, the drug will be offered to anyone who has over 14 years, free of charge, who is eligible for Quebec health insurance coverage, therefore who has a health insurance card ”, Explained the Minister of Health Gaétant Barette. It will also be possible to take it for a loved one, a homeless person, consuming opioids.
Consuming Fentanyl without knowing it?
In Quebec, some drugs sold on the black market contain Fentanyl and some consumers ignore it. However, the effects are very strong and an overdose leads to death. It is against this scourge that the government wants to act and has asked hospitals to report similar cases. A budget of $ 200,000 has been made available to provide nalaxone to users.
” Although Quebec has so far been relatively spared from the opioid crisis, the situation is very worrying and we are giving ourselves the means to act in prevention with people at risk of overdosings ”, declared the Minister of Public Health and Youth Protection, Lucie Charlebois.
Maylis Choné
Read also: Opioid overdoses: a nasal spray authorized in France
