HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES LATER THIS WEEK. DOZENS OF THESE VENDING MACHINES WILL BE SENT OUT ACROSS OKLAHOMA. ALL YOU DO IS PUT IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND IT’LL DISPENSE NARCAN OR THOSE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS. DO YOU SEE THEM IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS? GROCERY STORES LIKE BREWERIES, HOMELESS SHELTERS? ALL IT TAKES IS A ZIP CODE TO GET MEDICATION THAT COULD SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE. WE WANT TO JUST LOOK AT THE ZIP CODE BECAUSE THAT’S THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE RISK AREAS OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE OVERDOSING. THIS VENDING MACHINE WAS JUST UNVEILED TODAY. THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES LATEST EFFORT TO STOP ACCIDENTAL DRUG OVERDOSES. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE’S BEEN OVER 92,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED BY ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE ACROSS THE NATION. AND IN OKLAHOMA, THAT’S ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE. SOME POLICE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN USING NARCAN, ALSO KNOWN AS NALOXONE, TO REVIVE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH AN OVERDOSE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS SPRING. A NEW LAW WAS PASSED THAT DECRIMINALIZING FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS ALSO AVAILABLE IN THESE MACHINES. IT CLARIFIES THAT THE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE VENDING MACHINES IS NOT CONSIDERED DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. THE DEPARTMENT HOPES THIS EFFORT WON’T JUST SAVE LIVES, BUT OPENED THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO GET HELP IF THEY’RE STRUGGLING WITH DRUG USE. THIS IS JUST AN ENTRY POINT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO THEN REALIZE THAT THERE’S ALSO TREATMENT AND SERVICES AVAILABLE RIGHT WITHIN REACH. I’M TOLD THE VENDING MACHINES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED STARTING THURSDAY