A call to action: expanding take-home naloxone availability for paediatric patients

The rise in opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths continues to profoundly impact Canadian children, youth, and families. Take-home naloxone (THN) programs provide an evidence informed harm reduction intervention that equips individuals with naloxone kits and overdose response training. Despite the known benefits of THN, children and youth impacted by substance use are often overlooked. Moreover, there is a critical lack of evidence informing the implementation of THN programs in pediatric settings. This commentary highlights the impact of the opioid crisis on Canadian children and youth; identifies the need for expanded youth focused harm reduction efforts and calls on stakeholders to prioritize the integration of THN initiatives into paediatric clinical settings.