The details
Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse the often fatal effects of an opioid overdose, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Opioid overdoses can be caused by substances such as heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers.
Educational resources and materials will also be available near the vending machine for community members, provided by the Hays County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Program.
The vending machine project comes from a collaboration with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, the Hays County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Program, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network, or ICON.
Hays County Health Department officials signed a memorandum of understanding with UTHealth as part of their initiatives to address drug use and mental health through the ICON program, according to the news release.
Hays County Commissioners unanimously approved the decision at a May 6 meeting.
Why it matters
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to Texas Health and Human Services, or HHS.
About 2 milligrams of fentanyl, equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered lethal, the department’s website states.
Fentanyl can be found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and counterfeit pills, which can lead to accidental poisonings as people may not know they are ingesting it, according to information from HHS.
Digging deeper
The Hays County community has faced fentanyl related deaths in recent years, particularly in the school districts.
From 2022-23, six Hays CISD students died from fentanyl-related deaths. The district increased the presence of Narcan on campuses following the students’ deaths, as previously reported by Community Impact.
In March, Texas State University launched an initiative to help Hays County school districts implement substance misuse education programs that are required by state law, as previously reported by Community Impact.
The university’s Fentanyl Education, Support, Training and Awareness, or FESTA, program, focuses on education and community engagement to reduce the onset of substance misuse of opioids, specifically fentanyl, as previously reported by Community Impact.
What’s next
County officials said they will continue working to address issues related to the health, safety and recovery of Hays County community members.
