Vending machines offering free Narcan in Deep Ellum

Life-saving machines will debut in Deep Ellum this week.

Two vending machines offering free Narcan will be placed in bars and restaurants this week.

“Opening up a conversation among parents and counselors and teachers and we’re really talking about the realities of drug use, and also Providing Solutions is really a step for Deep Ellum and the Deep Ellum community,” Veronica said. Young and the Deep Ellum Foundation.

By the end of the year, more than 30 machines will be installed throughout Deep Ellum.

WHAT IS NARCAN?

Narcan is an over-the-counter 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 medication used for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose with symptoms of breathing problems and excessive sleepiness or unresponsiveness.”

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

SAMHSA says that because naloxone is a temporary treatment its effects do not last long and it is important to get medical help as soon as possible after giving or receiving naloxone.

Marin Wolf with The Dallas Morning News tells NBC 5 about the life-saving 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 binding to opioid receptors and changing or blocking the effects of opioids.

“Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to someone if their breathing has slowed or stopped due to an opioid overdose. But, naloxone has no effect on someone who has no opioids in their system, and when is 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, which can also be injected as a nasal spray.

Naloxone only works for 30 to 90 minutes and most opioids stay in the body longer than that. It is possible for a person to still experience the effects of an overdose after the naloxone dose has been reduced so it is important to call 911 or get emergency medical care as soon as possible after the overdose. that the balance is given.

The US Food and Drug Administration on March 29, 2023, approved the sale of naloxone without a prescription, making the overdose-reversing drug the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter. among the counters.

A different drug, Opvee (nalmefene) is also an emergency nasal medicine used to reverse an opioid overdose. However, Opvee 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 currently available at over-the-counter pharmacies.

Other types of nasal sprays (RiVive) and injections may also 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, equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.

Without a laboratory test, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is in the pill or powder. If you come into contact with fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911 immediately.

Fentanyl remains the worst drug threat facing this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, and 66% of those deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Drug addiction is the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Fentanyl in the United States is supplied mainly by two criminal drug networks, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG ).

WHAT IS MOKOLI FENTANYL?

In August 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a public advisory regarding the emerging trend of colored fentanyl available nationwide.

The brightly colored fentanyl, called “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, is being taken in many forms, including pills, powders and blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk.

“Rainbow fentanyl – fentanyl pills and powders that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes – is a deliberate effort by drug dealers to drive addiction among children and young adults,” said DEA Director Anne Milgram. “The men and women of the DEA are working hard to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the majority of fentanyl sold in the United States.”

Despite claims that some colors may be stronger than others, there is no evidence in the DEA laboratory that this is the case. The DEA said that every color, shape and size of fentanyl should be considered very dangerous.

Officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration warn about fentanyl appearing in bright colors, sometimes resembling chalk or candy.