B.C. to distribute free nasal naloxone but experts wary of funding set to end next year

Harm reduction advocate Leslie McBain's heart leapt when she heard the news that nasal naloxone kits would soon be free across B.C.

McBain, who cofounded Moms Stop The Harm in the wake of her son's toxic drug overdose, says having an accessible alternative to the injectable intramuscular naloxone will save lives. 

Not everyone is comfortable carrying or using a syringe to administer naloxone — but a nasal spray can be an easier alternative.

However, she and others who pushed for this program are concerned to see that B.C. has so far only committed funding for free nasal naloxone until the end of March 2027.

"It's very troubling actually," she said. "The toxic drug crisis will not be over in one year."

This program comes as the expansion of a 2024 pilot project, which saw 60,000 nasal naloxone kits distributed first to youth, Indigenous communities, and people in cold climates. Later, it was expanded to anyone at risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose. 

Now, B.C. is investing $18 million to make the drug as widely available as intramuscular naloxone, with up to 290,000 kits available based on demand prior to March 2027.

Health Minister Josie Osborne celebrated the expansion of this project, but would not say whether her government would commit to funding it beyond next spring.

"My hope would be that we never need naloxone, that we were able to overcome this toxic drug crisis that we're facing," she said.

"But in the meantime, we want to make sure that people have the right naloxone, which is the naloxone they will use."

More than 1,800 people fatally overdosed in B.C. in 2025, according to data from the province provided this month.

Osborne faced pressure last year to announce the long-awaited outcome of the pilot project from experts and B.C. Conservative MLA and Critic for Mental Health and Addictions Claire Rattée.

Rattée is happy to see the new funding — and hopes nasal naloxone will replace the intramuscular for the general public, due to her concerns about the diversion of syringes for other drugs. 

However, this short-term commitment from B.C. feels like "pilot project part two," she says, while meaningful investments for other addictions prevention, education, and treatment measures she's pushed for are overlooked.