Naloxone is available in both the injectable and nasal delivery forms. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

overdoses

Significant rise in naloxone distribution in tri-communities in recent months

Mar 17, 2025 | 3:37 PM

There’s been a large rise in naloxone distribution in the tri-communities since November.

That’s according to Giant Tiger pharmacist Matt Preston, who explained in the last four months alone he has dispensed more than 100 kits of NARCAN, the nasal spray form of naloxone. In the eight months prior to that, he said he only gave out four or five.

“There seems to be more public awareness of it, and also the other thing we have noticed is a lot of family members coming in and picking up kits,” Preston noted.

“They are recognizing having that on their person or in their vehicle can be a lifesaving medication and they are treating it no different than an EpiPen in terms of how people view having NARCAN.”

Naloxone is a fast-acting medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. Information from Health Canada states naloxone can begin to take effect within two minutes. If a response to an initial dose is not seen within two to three minutes, subsequent doses can safely be given.

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Opioids affects certain receptors in the brain and naloxone works by kicking opioids off the receptors and binding to those receptors instead. This reverses or blocks the effects of opioids in the body.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of opioid overdoses in Saskatchewan primarily due to fentanyl. For instance, the Saskatoon Fire Department has responded to more than 300 overdoses since Feb. 25, and just this weekend in Prince Albert, police there warned of a sudden rise in overdoses.

Preston has been happy to see the increase of naloxone distribution in the tri-communities, adding it reduces stigma of the product and increases the chances of it being available when needed.

“We did a training course with some of the staff with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) back in November/December and pretty much everyone wanted to have a kit and have that ability to save someone’s life,” he remarked. “It is a very powerful thing to have that capacity.”

Naloxone is available free of charge to all members of the tri-communities whether they have Treaty status or not at the LLRIB’s Jeannie Bird Clinic. Most pharmacies in Saskatchewan, including in La Ronge, also distribute it via prescription.

It is financially covered at pharmacies for those with Treaty status. Those who are non-status must first take a training course with public health, or they can purchase the product.

The cost for the injectable naloxone is $30 to $40 depending on the brand and the nasal spray is about $70. Both forms have an expiry that lasts two or three years.

Kayla Forest is a sexually transmitted blood-born infection and harm reduction registered nurse with the LLRIB. She said when requested at the Jeannie Bird Clinic, a nurse will come to the front and provide training on how to use naloxone.

Forest also mentioned there has been an increase of naloxone throughout Saskatchewan and it can be accessed at clinics in nearby communities as well.

“It’s available Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Jeannie Bird Clinic and at each outlying clinic that we serve – Sucker River, Grandmother’s Bay and Hall Lake,” she said.

“In Sucker River, it is also available at their band hall and you just have to talk to their first responder at the front desk.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com