(Missouri News Service) – What were once machines associated with snack foods are now being repurposed in communities across Missouri to deliver something far more critical: lifesaving medication.
Narcan, a naloxone-based drug widely recognized for its ability to reverse opioid overdoses, is being distributed through vending-style machines and outdoor porch boxes as part of a broader statewide effort to reduce overdose deaths.
According to state health data, more than 1,400 Missourians died from drug overdoses last year, with opioids involved in nearly two-thirds of those deaths. Public health officials say increasing access to naloxone is one of the most effective tools available to counter that trend…