A life-saving vending machine will be launched in Deep Ellum this weekend.
Two vending machines that dispense Narcan for free will be placed in bars and venues this weekend.
“Opening the conversation among parents and mentors and teachers and really telling the truth about drug use, and also Providing solutions is an initiative of Deep Ellum and the Deep Ellum community,” said Veronica Young with the Deep Ellum Foundation.
By the end of the year, more than 30 of the vending machines will be placed throughout Deep Ellum.
WHAT IS NARCAN?
Narcan is an over-the-counter prepackaged nasal spray containing naloxone hydrochloride which is an opioid antagonist that quickly reverses an opioid overdose, but only temporarily.
According to the manufacturer, “Narcan nasal spray is a prescription drug used for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose with signs of breathing problems and severe sleepiness or inability to respond.”
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, naloxone is an FDA-approved medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
SAMHSA says because naloxone is a temporary treatment its effects do not last long and it is critical to seek medical intervention as soon as possible after administering or receiving naloxone.
Marin Wolf with The Dallas Morning New told NBC 5 about the rescue training.
WHAT IS NALOXONE?
According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, naloxone is a drug that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose by attaching itself to opioid receptors and either reversing or blocking the effects of opioids.
“Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped due to an opioid overdose. However, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, and morphine.
Naloxone comes in two FDA-approved forms, injectable and as a nasal spray.
Naloxone works in only 30 to 90 minutes and many opioids stay in the body longer than that. It is possible for people to still experience the effects of an overdose after the naloxone dose is over so it is important to call 911 or get the overdosed person medical attention as soon as possible after the dose is administered.
The US Food and Drug Administration on March 29, 2023, approved the sale of naloxone without a prescription, making the overdose-reversal drug the first opioid medication to be sold over the counter.
A different drug, Opvee (nalmefene) is also an emergency nasal spray drug used to reverse opioid overdoses. Opvee, however, is not approved for over-the-counter use and can only be obtained with a prescription. Nalmefene stays in the body longer than naloxone and may be more effective for overdoses caused by long-acting opioids but may also come with more opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Does FDA approval mean I can buy NARCAN at CVS or Walgreens?
Yes. Narcan is now available over the counter in pharmacies.
Another brand of nasal sprays (RiVive) and injectables may soon be available over the counter.
What is FENTANYL?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.
Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is in the pill or powder. If you find fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911 immediately.
Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 Americans will die from drug overdoses in 2021, with 66% of those deaths related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Drug addiction is the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Fentanyl is available in the United States primarily supplied by two criminal drug networks, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
What is RAINBOW FENTANYL?
In August 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a public advisory regarding the alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl being available nationwide.
Brightly colored fentanyl, dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, has been seized in various forms, including pills, powders, and blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk.
“Rainbow fentanyl – fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes – is a deliberate attempt by drug traffickers to drive addiction among kids and young adults,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The men and women of the DEA are working tirelessly to stop the rainbow fentanyl trade and defeat the Mexican drug cartels responsible for the vast majority of fentanyl trafficked in the United States.”
Despite claims that certain colors may be stronger than others, there is no indication through DEA ​​laboratory testing that this is the case. The DEA says that every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.
Officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration warn that fentanyl appears in bright colors, sometimes resembling sidewalk chalk or candy.
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