The University unveils a free Narcan vending machine

In 2023, vending machines will dispense marijuana, beers and art. They’ll also dispense Narcan – a lifesaving drug.

Santa Clara University in California has announced that it will install a vending machine on campus to distribute canisters of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.

Jamie Chang , Assistant Professor of Public Health at Santa Clara University told NBC Bay Area that “Naloxone can reverse an overdose in minutes.” To not have this available seemed counterintuitive in terms of many public health principles.

Narcan is a solution that can save lives instantly. People die when friends don’t dial 911 or they aren’t aware of Good Samaritan Laws that prevent them from saving a person from overdose. Students should have Narcan readily available to be able to react quickly in many situations.

Isabella Bunkers, a student at the University of Washington said that the goal was to distribute naloxone to the public. The more people who have naloxone in their possession, the greater the chance to save lives.

It is possible that vending machines will be introduced to universities near you. According to The Mercury News , Stanford University is planning on introducing one within a couple of weeks. Setareh Irani, who was involved in the launch of this project, said that SCU was a “party school” and drug abuse is something we are aware happens both on and off campus.

This idea is inspired by Charlie Ternan’s death in 2020, when his friends believed he had fallen asleep while he died from fentanyl.

Photos by Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group

One in five deaths of youth are attributed to fentanyl, and the opioids that accompany it. This is according to data released by California Department of Vital Statistics. Fentanyl was responsible for the deaths of 5,722 Californians, a number that is more than double the estimate 2,548 people killed by homicides.

It’s not necessary to look for fentanyl in order to die from an overdose. According to the Columbus Police Department announcement on May 5, two students died of fentanyl poisoning. The fentanyl had been disguised as Adderall.

Narcan costs up to $125 without insurance. Most students cannot afford this cost. This is the main purpose of the project. When someone overdoses on opioids, it can take too much time to find a way to pay.

Chang, who was involved in the launch of campus vending machines, said, “First, it is free and is located at a location that students can easily access.” We hope that, regardless of the students’ decision to use Naloxone or not, it will at least convey the message to them that this is a serious issue and there are resources available.

California Senate Bill 367 requires public colleges and public schools to provide Narcan for students on campus. Some California high schools are providing Narcan to students.

Santa Clara County, California is looking at installing vending machines similar to those found in high schools.

People are becoming more familiar with fentanyl. “We’ve discussed it everywhere, including in Greek life, club sports, and varsity athletics,” stated Olivia Pruett a student of public health. Narcan is only useful if it’s available when people need it. The conversation must continue.

In Minnesota, legislators are working to pass legislation that will mandate schools to keep Narcan on hand in case of emergency.

The article University unveils free Narcan vending machine first appeared on High Times.