Rural northeast Oklahoma is trying a new way to prevent overdoses and sexually transmitted infections.
Delaware County’s GRAND Mental Health clinic in Jay has a new vending machine on its porch with Narcan, HIV tests, pregnancy tests, wound care kits and blood alcohol tests.
It’s the first of its kind geared specifically toward rural Oklahoma, advocates say. Lawton and Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva have the machines as well.
GRAND worked with Delaware County Community Partnership, an opioid response program, and Integris Hospital to place the machine, according to a news release.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates Oklahoma had more than 1,000 drug overdose deaths and more than 20,000 sexually transmitted infections in 2022, the latest year with such data.
According to Johns Hopkins University, harm reduction vending machines effectively decrease syringe sharing among drug users. Early evidence suggests the machines lower local overdose deaths by dispensing naloxone.
But some people in the area were concerned about drug addicts moving into Jay because of the machine.
“I don’t think people understand that addiction affects more people than you may realize, including people with everyday, typical jobs that you would never expect that addiction has touched their lives,” said Brandy Myers, a GRAND behavioral health coach.
At a luncheon Thursday celebrating the launch of the vending machine, GRAND Regional Officer Kasandra Turbett said it's meant to be one effort around a social push for destigmatizing mental illness and addiction awareness.
“The individuals in our community who are struggling with mental health and substance abuse, those individuals matter,” said Turbett.
