TORONTO, March 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada is facing an opioid crisis, which continues to cause significant harm to many Canadians. Today, Shoppers Drug Mart, and its parent company Loblaw Companies Limited, reaffirmed their longstanding commitment to the front-line fight against the opioid epidemic by releasing a comprehensive strategy to build on the existing efforts taken by their more than 1,700 pharmacy teams across the country in their ongoing fight to help to address this crisis and help save lives.

"This is a problem in nearly every neighbourhood, affecting our patients, customers, friends and family members. We want to be a positive force for change, as we continue to support the front-line fight against Canada's opioid epidemic," said Jeff Leger, President, Shoppers Drug Mart. "Over the past few years, our pharmacy teams have been called upon to help more and more patients struggling with opioid addiction. Today's announcement represents a concerted effort to build upon our existing work and ensure that our efforts are having the most meaningful impact possible."

Shoppers Drug Mart is reinforcing its support strategy with a renewed focus on the following comprehensive five-pillared approach:

• Promoting Appropriate Use through detection tools and ongoing management of patients' opioid use.

• Empowering Pharmacists through continuing education, clinical practice tools, and narcotic monitoring and pharmacy systems for a holistic approach to patient care.

• Optimizing Therapy by managing patients' treatment and conducting pain management assessments or medication reviews when appropriate and supporting advocacy efforts to limit quantities dispensed.

• Providing Pharmacy Treatment and Rescue Options by ensuring broad access to treatment for opioid dependence, alternate options for pain management, and naloxone kits through our pharmacies.

• Building a Community of Support by improving access to community resources and driving fundraising and program development support.

"We are committed to identifying innovative ways in which we can continue to contribute to fighting this crisis and are encouraged by the increased awareness and focus from all stakeholders," said Leger. "We continue to advocate for government support, specifically to include pharmacists as practitioners within the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which would allow them to adapt prescriptions to ensure patients receive the safest and most effective therapy for their specific need."

Additionally, Shoppers Drug Mart is committed to working collaboratively with all key stakeholders, including government, physicians, payors and professional associations, to curb the surge in opioid-related deaths. Shoppers Drug Mart will host a series of community town halls across the country, bringing together community members with key healthcare stakeholders to discuss actionable outcomes for local impact.

To find out more please visit https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/health-and-pharmacy/naloxone(Open in a new tab).

About Shoppers Drug Mart Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With almost 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The company also licenses or owns 47 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec), and provides cosmetic dermatology services at one standalone location, the Beauty Clinic by Shoppers Drug Mart. As well, the company owns and operates 36 corporate Shoppers Home Healthcare stores, seven Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.