Nova Scotia moves to head off overdose deaths amid growing flood of fentanyl
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is taking initial steps to head off a British Columbia-style epidemic of fentanyl overdose deaths.
The province’s chief medical officer of health said $1.1 million will be spent to distribute about 5,000 free kits with naloxone — an antidote for opioid overdoses — through police, jails, and community pharmacies.
“It’s critical we have these in place as we’re faced with increasing amounts of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids on our streets,” said Dr. Robert Strang Friday.
He said making the naloxone available is part of “the first important steps in a long journey” that is likely to see yet more fentanyl flood into the drug distribution networks of the East Coast province.