A life-saving vending machine is set to open in Deep Ellum this weekend.
Two vending machines will be set up in bars and venues this weekend to give out free Narcan.
“Opening the dialogue between parents, leaders and teachers, having serious conversations about the realities of drug use and offering solutions is a real effort in Deep Ellum and the Deep Ellum community,” said Veronica Young with the Deep Ellum Foundation.
By the end of the year, there will be more than 30 vending machines 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 reverses an opioid overdose, but the effect is only temporary.
According to the manufacturer“Narcan nasal spray is a prescription medication used to treat known or suspected opioid overdose emergencies accompanied by signs of difficulty breathing, severe drowsiness or an inability to respond.”
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationNaloxone is an FDA-approved medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
SAMHSA said naloxone is a temporary treatment, meaning its effects do not last long, and it is important to seek medical intervention as soon as possible after administering or receiving naloxone.
The Dallas Morning News’ Marin Wolf speaks to NBC 5 about the lifesaving training.
What is Naloxone?
According to National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of HealthNaloxone is a drug that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by binding to opioid receptors and reversing or blocking the effects of opioids.
“Naloxone can quickly return breathing to normal in someone whose 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 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: an injectable and a nasal spray.
The effects of naloxone only last for 30 to 90 minutes, but many opioids remain in the system for much longer. The effects of an overdose can linger after naloxone wears off, so it’s essential to call 911 or get the overdose person medical help as soon as possible after it’s administered.
On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of naloxone without a prescription, making the overdose-reversing drug the first opioid treatment to be sold over the counter.
Another drug, Operation Nalmefene is also a rescue nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdoses. However, Opvi is not approved as an over-the-counter drug and is available only with a prescription. Nalmefene stays in the body longer than naloxone and may be more effective in treating long-acting opioid overdoses, but it may also cause more intense opioid withdrawal symptoms.
DOES FDA APPROVAL MEAN YOU CAN BUY NARCAN AT CVS OR WALGREENS?
Yes, Narcan is now available over the counter in pharmacies.
Other brands of nasal spray (RiVive) and injectables may soon be available over the counter.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl is equivalent to 10 to 15 grains of salt and is considered a lethal dose.
Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how concentrated the fentanyl is in the pills or powder. If you encounter fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911 immediately.
Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing the country: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, 66% of which involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Drug addiction is the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Fentanyl available in the United States is primarily supplied by two drug crime organizations: 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. About an alarming new trend: colorful fentanyl becoming available nationwide.
The brightly colored fentanyl, which the media has dubbed “rainbow fentanyl,” has been seized in a variety of forms, including pills, powder and chunks that resemble sidewalk chalk.
“Rainbow fentanyl – fentanyl pills and powder in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes – is a deliberate attempt by drug traffickers to poison children and young people,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “DEA officers continue to work tirelessly to disrupt the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and take down the Mexican drug cartels who produce the majority of fentanyl trafficked in the United States.”
Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, DEA lab tests have found no indication that this is the case, and the DEA said all colors, shapes and sizes of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.
DEA officials have warned that fentanyl can come in bright colors, sometimes resembling sidewalk chalk or candy.
