Vending machine in Westover offers free Narcan to aid in overdose death prevention
Apr. 8—MORGANTOWN — Three organizations have collaborated to make Narcan available year-round in North Central West Virginia.
Free packaged Narcan can be obtained seven days a week, year-round via a vending machine inside Wise Path Recovery Centers, at 900 Fairmont Rd. The vending machine, said to be the first of its type in the Mountain State is a project of West Virginia Sober Living in collaboration with Monongalia County Health Department's Quick Response Team and Wise Path Recovery Center.
"Unfortunately, Hope Hill Sobering Center ceased operations in 2024, which left a gap in after-hours naloxone access. WVSL Solutions, in partnership with the Mon County Health Department, began exploring other locations that would increase 24/7 access in a private location," WVSL Executive Director Jon Dower said. "We also identified that individuals could benefit from more than naloxone and added fentanyl testing strips and personal hygiene supplies for those in need.
"We are thrilled to work collaboratively with Wise Path Recovery Centers. Talking with their Director, Brad Pershing, made the transition easy and an effective way to access additional care should someone visiting the machine need it."
Narcan nasal spray is a prescription medicine used to treat suspected opioid overdose emergencies with signs of breathing problems and severe sleepiness or unresponsiveness. Naloxone, the active ingredient in Narcan, is an opioid antagonist that reverses the acute effects of an opioid overdose by binding to the opioid receptors in the brain, which has proven to reverse the opioid's acute effects.
The protection from Narcan is temporary and those administering it should call 911 as soon as possible.
On March 29, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an over-the-counter version of Narcan. The FDA made the decision due to an increase in opioid-related overdoses of almost 20% between 2020 and 2021. However, access to this over-the-counter version will not likely be available until the summer of 2023.
According to data published on the Office of Drug Control Policy's Data Dashboard, West Virginia had over 9,000 emergency medical calls for suspected overdoses. Preliminary data suggests more than 1,250 West Virginians lost their lives to overdoses in 2022.
"We are very happy that a greater variety of items will be offered and that the vending machine will be more accessible over a greater period of time," said Mon County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Lee B. Smith said.
In Morgantown, people needing access to Narcan during traditional business hours can contact Monongalia County QRT at 304-602-3305.
The machine is located inside the main entrance in the vestibule and will not require interaction with agency staff to access it. With the new over-the-counter version of Narcan, the state's requirement of limiting individuals to one dose per person is no longer in effect.
"We are proud to partner with our colleagues at West Virginia Sober Living Solutions and Monongalia County QRT in providing our community with this harm reduction service. Jon Dower and his team continue to implement life-saving strategies across the state, and we are honored to collaborate with these fantastic agencies on this initiative," Brad Pershing, program director of Wise Path Recovery Center, said.
Dower said opioids continue to impact Monongalia County.
"Giving this machine new life at Wise Path can also save the life of another Mon County resident. Our mission as part of Mon County QRT is to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in our county. While the machine is not a silver bullet, it allows access to life-saving medication and information on connecting with our QRT team that can provide a pathway to recovery. Working with multiple agencies to make this happen is a testament to the work we can accomplish in our state when we work together," Dower said.
For more information on West Virginia Sober Living or the Narcan vending machine, call 304-602-3305 or visit www.wvsls.com.
Reach Eric Cravey at 304-367-2523.
