An opioid overdose can be reversed through the use of the chemical naloxone, also called Narcan.
There were 222 such reversals reported to the Grand Rapids Red Project between January and October last year.
Along with free vending machines, Kent County currently has about 35 repurposed newspaper boxes acting as free distribution points, with plans to expand to 100, says Health Department Overdose Epidemiologist Sydney Resler
“They're just newspaper boxes, so they're not temperature controlled at all, and they are sometimes put outside, so that they can be accessed 24/ 7,
But there’s a problem in extreme cold.
“The medication inside will still work. The concern is that if it temperatures drop below 5 degrees, the medication itself can freeze inside the device so you cannot physically plunge and use the device.”
The nasal spray must be thawed to room temperature or held against the body for 15 minutes.
Once the plunger can be pressed its ready to use.
Strips used to test street drugs for fentanyl and other dangerous additives will also still work but users must ensure the liquid sample doesn't freeze during the test.
“You can find maps of where to get in the naloxone and test strips all for free on the Kent County website."
To find naloxone, testing strips, and other resources, visit the Opioid Task Force website.
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