Listen Live
Listen Live

Take Home Naloxone program reverses thousands of opioid overdoses

Kits containing a life-saving medication have been used to reverse more than 50,000 opioid overdoses in BC.

175,000 naloxone kits have been reported distributed to people who use drugs and those who are likely to witness an overdose through the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) Take Home Naloxone program.

“I think the program has been really well accepted by people and the general public,” says BCCDC medical lead for harm reduction, Dr. Jane Buxton.

“It obviously has had to ramp up considerably because of the tragic deaths that are occurring, and even though we are saving lives we still need to do more.”

Buxton says although BC has implemented many initiatives including take-home naloxone, making overdose prevention sites available and increasing opioid agonist therapy we are still seeing unacceptable numbers of deaths because people are using illicit substances which are so toxic.

“People need to know what they’re taking so that they’re not put at risk of dying every time they take a substance, every time they take opioids.”

The Take Home Naloxone program was launched in 2012.

The BCCDC said between 2012 and the end of 2015, 5,073 kits were reported distributed. Since 2016, 169,949 have been given out.

With files from Rebecca Dyok, MyCaribooNow.com

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Continue Reading

<p>

chnv Now playing play

</p>

<p>

ckkc Now playing play

</p>

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

<p>

- Advertisement -
</p>

Latest News

Hartley’s Sports Shorts; Friday, July 4th

Sports by Hartley Friday, July 4th, 2025 (As of 12:05...

RCMP vehicle sparks wildfire north of Lytton

A wildfire burning near Lytton grew to over 1.5 square kilometres Thursday and has been declared a wildfire of note by the B.C. Wildfire Service.

Loader fire doused in Quesnel

The Quesnel Fire Department was called to the scene of a loader that had caught fire at the Silva Gro Nursery chip manufacturing site on Lear Road.

Climate advocate joins B.C. Greens leadership race

The B.C. Greens have added 24-year-old climate advocate Emily Lowan from Victoria to the slate of candidates in the party's leadership race.

Skipper hanging up the leash after nine years of service to North District RCMP

One of the North District RCMP's finest is calling...
- Advertisement -