PHOENIX — More than three people die from fentanyl in Maricopa County, according to county data.
To try and prevent those deaths, a new and free Narcan vending machine is now available in Phoenix.
"This will save lives and everybody should have a kit in their medicine cabinet," Elizabeth Moyer, director of Integrated Substance Use Disorder Services at Valle del Sol said.
The new vending machine is set up at Valle del Sol's South Phoenix center at 1209 S 1st Ave. Both the nasal spray and injectable versions of naloxone are available for free for anyone to pick up.
"Fentanyl overdose or opiate overdose including Oxycontin, Percocet, heroin, fentanyl– it does not discriminate," Moyer said.
Each package of the overdose reversal drug has instructions on how to use it. Both the injectable version and nasal spray Moyer said can help save lives.
"(It) opens up the opiate receptors – which is what is causing the overdose, is that they're constricted," Moyer said. "So it'll open up those opiate receptors and it will put them into withdrawal. So, we want to make sure that we are following up with medical care afterwards."
Valle del Sol does offer services and treatment for those struggling with substance abuse but anyone picking up a package of Narcan from the vending machine is not required to seek services.
"I believe that it has that anonymous quality to it takes out that judgment, on, you know, people coming to get it, and it being very accessible to the public," Cyril Garcia, a patient of Valle del Sol said.
Garcia said he's had to use Narcan on someone else and needed it himself and believes it can help save lives.
"We need it here in our community," Garcia said.
Valle del Sol is also hoping to place another vending machine at its Mesa location near Country Club and Brown in the coming months, Moyer said.
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