In an effort to address fatal overdoses from fentanyl, Public Health — Seattle & King County (KCPH) has been installing Narcan vending machines to reduce the risk of overdose deaths.
The first vending machines in King County that provided access to the overdose medication were installed in April 2022. Public health said it partnered with local organizations like Peer Washington, which operates Peer Seattle and Peer Kent, to place the vending machines at sites to provide the resources and overdose prevention supplies.
“The danger with fentanyl often is not necessarily the people that know that they’re using fentanyl, it’s the people that don’t know they’re using fentanyl,” said Peer Seattle Director Christopher Archiopoli.
The vending machines are filled with Naloxone, the medication to reverse an overdose, and fentanyl test strips.
“There’s something special about being able to offer immediate, life-saving medication, free of charge. Our members face long journeys when it comes to recovery, or securing housing and employment, so offering a resource that provides immediate relief goes a long way,” said Shannon French, a volunteer at Peer Seattle.
More than 100,000 fentanyl test strips and over 13,000 naloxone kits have been distributed over the past year, according to KCPH. Since April 2022, over 4,000 fentanyl test strips and over 1,000 naloxone kits were distributed through the vending machines.
Archiopoli told KOMO News everyone should have access to Narcan kits and fentanyl test strips, especially since it’s something that is seen in the streets every day.
“I don’t think people are going to stop using just because we take something away, and in my mind if it saves one life it’s worth it,” Archiopoli said.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is expected to issue an executive order Monday that will focus on solutions and expanding treatment services. Archiopoli said the more access people have the better.
“Places that people can go, this could be in every bar, frankly, because that’s where the biggest danger is, honestly,” Archiopoli said. “Like I said, people that are not aware that they’re using opioids.”
The KCPH said they’ve seen how the program can help people get resources to help those at risk for overdose.
There were 1,002 overdose deaths in 2022, according to the King County Fatal Overdose Dashboard. So far this year, there have been 335 confirmed overdose deaths in King County.
Tags: Fentanyl Harm Reduction Naloxone Opioid Epidemic Overdose Test Strips
