SickKids to offer take-home naloxone kits as part of harm-reduction initiative to help prevent opioid overdoses

Beginning March 2026, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) will begin offering take‑home naloxone kits to patients and families that are identified to be at risk of opioid overdose. The program is designed to improve access to naloxone, an effective, life‑saving medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and strengthen harm‑reduction supports for youth at risk of overdose.

Opioid‑related harms continue to pose a serious public health concern, with opioids remaining a leading cause of accidental substance‑related deaths among youth aged 12–24. To help address this need, SickKids will distribute voluntary take‑home naloxone kits at discharge from the Emergency Department and within targeted outpatient clinics. Trained staff will provide brief education to patients and caregivers on recognizing and responding to an overdose, including how to administer naloxone. This initiative is consistent with similar programs at other Ontario hospitals, including fellow paediatric centres, and follows best practices in youth‑focused harm‑reduction care. Patients, families and caregivers can access additional resources on substance use and overdose prevention on AboutKidsHealth.

By offering take‑home naloxone kits available to those who may benefit from them, SickKids aims to enhance safety for youth at risk, provide families with essential tools for emergency response, and contribute to a broader harm‑reduction effort across the province.