Lindsey Sobkowski

At the turn of the new semester in September, Oakland University revealed a brand new vending machine in the Oakland Center (OC) that dispensed Narcan (naloxone) packets for free.

Narcan is a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses, including heroin, fentanyl and prescription overdoses. Additionally, Narcan has no negative impact when used on someone having a different medical emergency.

The installation comes as a collaboration between the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) and a committee of representatives from the Office of the Dean of Students, the Oakland University Police Department (OUPD), Environmental Health and Safety and the Graham Health Center (GHC).

It was initially installed in April 2023, but due to the end of the semester, no official ceremony was held until the beginning of the fall 2023 semester. Between its installation and its ceremony, 205 doses were dispensed.

The possibility of providing Narcan on campus was first discussed in the fall of 2022 when the Oakland County Health Department reached out to GHC director Ann Rayford. Then, in January, Rayford said some social work students expressed their interest.

“We know that it’s a problem that people do have issues with prescription [medication], or maybe it’s a recreational thing, and it ends up being laced with [things like] fentanyl,” Rayford said. “There is a need in the community… we came together to talk and figure out if this was something we could do on campus.”

Each packet includes instructions on how to use it, and the vending machine has a QR code to an instructional video, allowing anyone to learn how to use Narcan in a crisis. The vending machine also separately offers safe sex packets that include condoms and lubricant.

The intention behind the machine is simple — to save lives, not to criminalize. No data is collected on who retrieves a packet.

“It’s really a risk reduction, harm prevention strategy that is in the community… you don’t know who takes it. You don’t know who needs it. We’re not collecting anything,” Rayford said. “It being anonymous, there’s nothing punitive that can come from it.”

All management of the machine is handled by the OCHD, including the purchase of the machine and weekly refills. All the committee at OU had to do was provide a space, and the OC was chosen because of its extended hours and the fact it is also open to the public.

Currently, the plan is to continue having the vending machine in place indefinitely.

“It’s available to whomever, and so long as there’s funding for it, it will remain there, and the product will remain free,” Rayford said.

“It’s just a matter of getting Narcan out there and having it available,” Rayford added. “You never know when you may need it for yourself, you may need it for a family member, and you may just want to have it to be a good samaritan and help someone who maybe you cross paths with when they’re in a crisis.”

For any individuals who are struggling with substance use, OU also launched its Hope Not Handcuffs program this year, which allows individuals to seek help in the GHC or OUPD office without facing any penalty.

Additionally, the OU Counseling Center also offers the Grizz Recovery Program, which provides a recovery lounge, weekly recovery meetings and one-on-one case management services. Students can contact [email protected] for more information.