In partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), Cameron University has placed a Narcan vending machine at its Lawton campus. CU is the first university in Oklahoma to offer this resource, which contains Naloxone and Fentanyl test strip kits that are available to any individual at no charge. The equipment is located on the south side of the McMahon Centennial Complex.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist which reverses and blocks the effects of opioids. Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in various types of substances.
“Cameron University supports ODMHSAS in this harm reduction effort to improve health care outcomes for Oklahomans,” says Jennifer Glover-Rowland, director of Cameron’s Student Wellness Center. “The Narcan vending machine will bring awareness to the narcotics epidemic and reduce the stigma placed upon users of Naloxone. More importantly, having this resource available to community members is a key step in preventing accidental overdoses and potential fatalities.”
According to ODMHSAS, accidental overdose is now the leading cause of death for people in the U.S. under 50. The department’s Harm Reduction campaign seeks to reduce the number of unintentional overdoses in Oklahoma through education, awareness and access to resources like Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strips.
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PR# 23-147
