ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — Saving a life in Erie County is now as easy as grabbing a snack, but after an alarming number of overdose deaths on Monday, officials are looking to make harm reduction a top priority.
Back in September, Matters — an organization that provides resources for those battling substance abuse — launched a program to install 14 Narcan vending machines around the state, including three in the City of Buffalo. At no cost, residents in need of the life-saving drug or fentanyl test strips can now access them 24/7 at outdoor locations.
But opioid-related overdose deaths are still on the rise. On Tuesday, Erie County announced the seven overdose deaths occurred in a six-hour span across the county Monday. They took place in three separate municipalities with victims ranging from their early 40s to early 60s.
“It's shocking, but we can't be too surprised,” said Shelby Arena with Matters.
This incident marked just the latest incident in the ongoing opioid epidemic that’s already seen 151 opioid-related deaths in Erie County this year. The county is on track for about one overdose death a day this year.
Resources like Matters’ Narcan vending machines are aimed at preventing these situations from turning deadly. Even though tragedies like Monday still happen, Arena said they are seeing residents in Erie County take advantage of the resources that exist for them.
The vending machine off Virginia Street is the most utilized, Arena said, with about 800 units of Narcan and fentanyl test strips dispensed each month.
“These are ways to prevent an overdose from becoming fatal or for people to test their substances,” she said.
The biggest challenge in preventing incidents like Monday’s is getting those using to be proactive and hit the machines beforehand.
“This isn't an emergency machine,” Arena said. “You can't come here when you're in the middle of an opioid overdose crisis. We think that naloxone should be in everybody's first aid kit. You never know when you're going to experience or be around an overdose.”
Matters says they plan to expand their vending machine program and place additional machines around the state later this year.
To learn more about Matters visit mattersnetwork.org
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