Overdose Prevention Vending Machines Soon Available At Oklahoma County Courthouse

Vending machines filled with lifesaving products will soon be in the Oklahoma County Courthouse. Products Bonnie Campo with and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse services says will help prevent drug overdoses.

“Substances are not what people think they are anymore. They have dramatically and radically changed overtime and fentanyl is taking over in Oklahoma. This is the way we fight that,” Campo said.

These products are Naloxone and Fentanyl testing strips, and it's all free.

“Naloxone reverses an overdose. It temporarily works by telling the brain to breathe again,” Campo said.

Right now, there's a vending machine at the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority.

“We've seen we're restocking that machine every week and a half,” Campo said.

They said people are in and out of the courthouse every day. They believe it will be a great fit as well.

“The family might be there to support someone going through that judicial process,” Campo said.

It does worry others like Drew Laboon.

“If I were at the courthouse for something legal I probably would not have sought harm reduction and been visibly in the public in a courthouse,” Laboon said.

Laboon said he knows what it's like to struggle with an addiction.

“For a long time I lived in the mindset that it will never be me. I won't be the one that will overdose and die, or I always had another good idea,” Laboon said.

Laboon said eventually, you realize your addiction is making all your decisions. Although he doesn't like the new vending machine location, he sees the concept as a step forward to approaching the fentanyl crisis. 

“We need to smash that stigma that we are not bad, we're sick. We can turn our lives around and recover,” Laboon said.

“Eighty percent of overdoses that occur are happening at home. Forty percent of the time, someone else is at home with them. That means they can save a life,” Campo said.

The exact day they will be installed hasn't been released.

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What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is an opioid that can be prescribed to patients battling severe pain. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, it is 100 times stronger than morphine.

Fentanyl is a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the US, according to the CDC.

Fentanyl is produced and prescribed as a medicine, but it is also made illegally and laced into other illegal drugs, often without the user knowing it’s there. 

“It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency,” the CDC says. “which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.”

Fentanyl Overdoses On The Rise

Fentanyl overdoses have been steadily on the rise since 2017, according to the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. In 2017, the BNDDC reports 54 fentanyl overdoses, 39 for 2018, 54 for 2019, 137 for 2020, 299 for 2021 and 474 for 2022.

In comparison, overdoses by any drug have gone up slightly, but not as steeply as overdoses from fentanyl.

To combat overdoses, the CDC recommends using test strips to detect fentanyl to avoid an overdose.

Image Provided By: Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control

Where Does Fentanyl Come From?

Illegal fentanyl is primarily manufactured in China and Mexico, according to the DEA. Fentanyl from China is typically sent through international main and consignment operations, according to the DEA. Fentanyl from Mexico is typically smuggled across the border into California and Arizona, the DEA states.

It is often suggested that fentanyl comes over the Mexico border with illegal immigrants, it is more often smuggled by US citizens, according to the Department of Justice. 

“Drug trafficking organizations will use anyone they can to help them with their dangerous and illegal activities, including regular border crossers as well as teens in the hopes that they won’t arouse suspicion,” the DOJ stated.

Fentanyl Seizures

Occurrences of authorities seizing fentanyl in Oklahoma have gone up in recent years, according to the BNDCC. In 2018, authorities did not seize any fentanyl, in 2019 they seized half a pound, in 2020 it was two pounds, by 2021 the number spiked to 18, and 2022 had a whopping 127 pounds.

However, the seizure of other drugs have gone up consistently with fentanyl, the BNDCC’s data shows. Meth saw a similar climb from 2018, 301 pounds seized, to 2022 with 3,492 pounds seized. The same was seen with marijuana, 1588 pounds seized in 2018, to 55736 pounds in 2022.

Image Provided By: Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control

Influence In Other Criminal Activity

Investigations of illegal drugs in Oklahoma has led to the identification of brothels, illegal casinos, other drug production and distribution and labor trafficking. According to the BNDCC, drug trafficking organizations have ties with sex and labor trafficking and money laundering.

What To Do During An Overdose

Fentanyl overdoses are extremely dangerous and require medical treatment. The American Addiction Centers advises that someone call 911 immediately. The AAC says overdoses can include small pupils, shallow breathing, cold skin, pale skin, blue or purple lips or fingers, no breathing, unconsciousness, limp limbs, slurred speech or inability to speak, unresponsiveness, vomiting, or choking.

AAC says to follow these steps if you believe someone is having a fentanyl overdose:

1. Call 911
2. Administer naloxone. Naloxone is used to quickly reverse an opioid overdose. There is an injectable solution and a nasal spray. Naloxone may need to be administered more than once.
3. Turn the person on their side to prevent choking.
4. Stay with the person and monitor their breathing until medical assistance.