Manitowoc County is getting two dispensing machines that will provide Narcan kits.
Narcan is a life-saving drug that is used to stop overdose deaths from drugs like heroin and meth.
Healthiest Manitowoc County Substance Prevention Coalition Chair Brittany Boyer says the Manitowoc County Health Department received a U.S. Department of Health Services grant for one of the machines while a second grant was given to Healthiest Manitowoc County.
Boyer says the machines will be placed in an area where they can be monitored 24/7 and can be accessed by anyone and should reduce the stigma about using Narcan.
“Not everyone is comfortable going to a counter, getting the training, and asking for Narcan,” she explained. “We want to meet people where they are at in their recovery.”
Some of the places the machines could be placed are at the Econo Lodge on Washington Street and at another Manitowoc County building that’s still being discussed.
Boyer says you’ll have to enter some information like a zip code before the Narcan is dispensed so, as Boyer explains Healthiest Manitowoc County can “see where in the county people are using and be able to target our recovery programs to those areas to help people, which, hopefully, will be able to reduce substance use.”
The kits will also include fentanyl testing strips and an information card to find out where you can go for help with overdose recovery, mental health disorders, and how to use Narcan.
