TORONTO -- Ontario's health minister says the government is moving to make the anti-overdose drug naloxone easily available in the province.
Eric Hoskins says his ministry is working with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and others to make naloxone available free of charge, over-the-counter and without prescription at pharmacies.
Naloxone is used to treat overdoses of opioids such as fentanyl.
Hoskins says the government takes the issue of opioid drug abuse and misuse seriously and he'll be announcing further measures to strengthen Ontario's narcotics strategy in coming weeks.
Alberta announced last week it was making the life-saving medication available without a prescription in an effort to curb fentanyl overdose deaths.
There are currently 24 naloxone programs in operation in Ontario, and Hoskins says the government will be further expanding access.
"We will be working with our partners to ensure that the appropriate training and information is available to ensure patient safety," Hoskins said Wednesday in a release.
