DALLAS — Deep Ellum, a neighborhood in the heart of Dallas lined with bars and restaurants, is now getting its first vending machine with free Narcan.
Narcan, also referred to as Naloxone, is known to be a life-saving drug and is used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Conscience Conduit and Livegy partnered to unveil the free Narcan vending machine on Sunday at the Deep Ellum Community Center. The vending machine merges art and public health to address the opioid crisis, according to a news release.
The vending machines were initially designed to be in high schools, according to the artist who spearheaded the designs for the vending machines.
“My goal was to create striking graphic art that captivates the community, transforming awareness into action by highlighting the availability of life-saving resources,” said Kaia of Kaia Bellanca Art. “It’s about delivering the right message to the right audience.”
Those who attended the unveiling received Narcan training and learned how to contribute to overdose prevention efforts.
The Conscience Conduit says the vending machines will expand across Texas and be placed in schools and public institutions.