Free Narcan Vending Machines in Deep Ellum – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Lifesaver vending machines will launch in Deep Ellum this weekend.

This weekend, two vending machines will be installed in bars and venues that will dispense free Narcan.

“Opening the conversation between parents, mentors and teachers and really talking about the reality of drug use and then also offering a solution is really the initiative of Deep Ellum and the Deep Ellum community,” said Veronica Young of the Deep Ellum Foundation.

By the end of the year, over 30 of these vending machines will be installed throughout Deep Ellum.

WHAT IS NARCAN?

Narcan is an over-the-counter, prepackaged nasal spray that contains naloxone hydrochloride, an opioid antagonist that quickly but temporarily reverses an opioid overdose.

According to the manufacturer, “Narcan Nasal Spray is a prescription medicine used to treat a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency with signs of difficulty breathing and severe drowsiness or unresponsiveness.”

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, naloxone is an FDA-approved medication used to treat opioid overdose.

SAMHSA stated that the effects of naloxone do not last long because it is a temporary treatment and it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible after administering or ingesting naloxone.

Marin Wolf of the Dallas Morning News tells NBC 5 about the life-saving training.

WHAT IS NALOXONE?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health, naloxone is a medication that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose by binding to opioid receptors, thereby reversing or blocking the effects of opioids.

“Naloxone can quickly restore a person's normal breathing 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 body, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, and morphine.

Naloxone is available in two FDA-approved forms: an injection and a nasal spray.

Naloxone only works for 30 to 90 minutes, and many opioids stay in the body longer. It is possible for a person to continue to feel the effects of an overdose even after the effects of a dose of naloxone wear off, so it is imperative to call 911 or get the person who has overdosed medical help as soon as possible after the dose is administered.

On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the over-the-counter sale of naloxone, putting the overdose reversal drug on track to become the first opioid treatment available over the counter.

Another medication, Opvee (nalmefene), is also an emergency nasal spray used to treat an opioid overdose. However, Opvee is not approved for over-the-counter use and can only be obtained by prescription. Nalmefene stays in the body longer than naloxone and may be more effective in cases of overdose caused by long-acting opioids, but it may also cause more severe opioid withdrawal symptoms.

DOES FDA APPROVAL MEAN I CAN BUY NARCAN AT CVS OR WALGREENS?

Yes. Narcan is currently available over the counter in pharmacies.

Other brands of nasal sprays (RiVive) and injectables may soon be available without a prescription.

WHAT IS FENTANYL?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent 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 what the concentration of fentanyl is in a pill or powder. If you come into contact with fentanyl in any form, do not touch it and call 911 immediately.

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug facing this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2021, with 66% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Drug poisoning is the leading cause of death among people aged 18 to 45 in the United States. The fentanyl available in the United States is distributed primarily 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 alert about the worrying new trend of colorful fentanyl becoming available nationwide.

The brightly colored fentanyl, also called “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, is seized in many forms, including tablets, powder and blocks reminiscent of 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 encourage addiction among children and young adults,” said DEA Director Anne Milgram. “The men and women of the DEA are working tirelessly to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels responsible for the majority of the fentanyl trafficked in the United States.”

Although it is claimed that certain colors are more potent than others, there is no indication in the DEA's lab tests that this is the case. The DEA said every color, shape and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.

Drug Enforcement Administration officials warn that fentanyl is available in bright colors that sometimes resemble sidewalk chalk or candy.