Here's how to get Narcan for free
Last year, more than 109,000 people across the nation ― including nearly 3,000 in Michigan ― died from drug overdoses, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health experts advise the best thing anyone can do to help friends and loved ones with addiction and to combat the epidemic of drug overdose deaths is to carry Narcan.
Narcan ― generic name: naloxone ― can reverse an opioid overdose if given properly and in time.
Signs of an overdose include:
lack of consciousness
slow, shallow or no breathing
loud snoring or gurgling
pinpoint pupils
an inability to speak
a limp body
pale complexion
lips or fingernails that have begun to turn purple
But Narcan, which is available without a prescription, can be expensive. If it's not covered by insurance or coupons, a package of two 4-mg vials of Narcan nasal spray can cost $100 or more.
Here's where you can get it for free:
Harm reduction groups offer free Narcan
A number of organizations aimed at reducing the harms associated with drug use offer free Narcan training ― and provide those in attendance with free Narcan after completion of the training. Most also offer training for workplaces and groups.
Among them:
Care of Southeastern Michigan's Recovery United Community Center in Fraser offers drive-up naloxone training. It also offers training for workplaces and groups. For information: careofsem.com/recovery-community-center or 586-552-1120.
Families Against Narcotics offers virtual and in-person Narcan training. Some of the trainings are open only to Macomb County residents, others are open to all Michigan residents. For information: familiesagainstnarcotics.org/naloxone or 586-438-8500.
Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities: Based in Troy, it offers virtual and in-person Narcan trainings. For info: bit.ly/3KauFYS or 248-221-7101. It also has placed a number of "Save a Life" boxes, which look like newspaper boxes, with Narcan around Oakland County. For locations: https://tinyurl.com/yeywebf2.
Detroit Recovery Project: Its prevention services team can help people obtain Narcan. Also, it has a mobile unit with a steady route. For information on the route or other services: https://tinyurl.com/3xa8etns or 833-377-4325 or 313-365-3100
Harm:Less: Part of Families Against Narcotics, this mobile unit medical provider also provides free Narcan. For more info or schedule: 833-333-1973. Text: 586-909-7250. www.harmlessteam.com
ACCESS in Sterling Heights, 4301 14 Mile Road, Sterling Heights. For information: 586-722-6036
Syringe service programs, which offer clean needles, also give away Narcan. Here is a map of those providers across the state: https://tinyurl.com/yf36ucu9
Narcan by mail
Narcan by mail is available through the harm reduction organization, NEXT Distro. For information: https://nextdistro.org
Narcan vending machines
Located in a variety of public settings, these vending machines provide free Narcan. Locations include:
David Adamany Undergraduate Library on the campus of Wayne State University, 5150 Anthony Wayne, Detroit
John D. Dingell Transit Center (the Dearborn Train Station), 21201 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
Affirmations, 290 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale. 248-398-7105
The Oakland Center student building on the campus of Oakland University, Rochester
For a list of more Narcan vending machines throughout the state: https://tinyurl.com/5n7we53a
More: CDC: 2022 national overdose deaths hit new record; decline in Michigan
More: No snacks or drinks, these vending machines dispense something that saves lives
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: To help stem the overdose crisis, you can get Narcan for free
