‘Clear health equity issue’: N.B. charity offers free asthma inhaler spacers to those in need

Alex Louie, a 10-year-old with asthma, uses his puffer during a medical visit.

A charity is offering a limited supply of free inhaler spacers to New Brunswickers in need.

The initiative from NB Lung aims to improve the use of asthma medications and reduce health complications in the province.

Asthma is a manageable condition, but when not properly controlled, can become life-threatening. Over 300 Canadians die each year from asthma attacks, according to Asthma Canada.

According to a news release from NB Lung, asthma affects at least one in 10 New Brunswickers, “yet many people who are prescribed inhalers… are not provided with a spacer – a simple device that can significantly improve how medication is delivered to the lungs.”

The spacer is the clear tube that extends the distance between the inhaler and the mouth, ensuring more medication gets into the airways.

“Without a spacer, much of the medication can end up in the mouth or throat instead of reaching the lungs where it’s needed,” says CEO and president of NB Lung, Melanie Langille, in the news release.

The Canadian Thoracic Society has recommended using spacers since the 1990s.

“Despite this, many New Brunswickers go without spacers due to cost or a lack of awareness,” reads the news release.

Spacers average $40 and are not covered by Medicare or the New Brunswick Drug Plan.

“This is a clear health equity issue – no one should have to struggle to access the tools they need to properly receive their medication,” says Langille.

Individuals can request a spacer through an online form and receive it by mail or pick it up in person at NB Lung’s Fredericton office at 123 Main St.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.