Lockport, N.Y. (WBEN) - Narcan, a life-saving medication used to prevent drug overdose, is now even more accessible to Niagara County residents in need. The City of Lockport now has a vending machine inside their municipal building filled with Narcan, available to anyone who visits at no cost.
"Save the Michaels of the World approached us to ask if we would be willing to house a vending machine for Narcan so that families and community members can have easy access to it in a non-judgmental way," said Lockport Mayor Michelle Roman. "We have drug court in our building and so it makes sense for people that are dealing with addiction and trying to improve their lives have access to this as well."
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34 overdose deaths have been reported this year alone in Niagara County.
"Niagara County has a high rate of overdoses. We want to make sure that we're providing all the resources that we have available to them," says Mayor Roman.
There are over 200 boxes of Narcan inside the vending machine, with each box containing two doses, some with a fentanyl test strip.
Save the Michaels have obtained a grant to continue to installing these vending machines in Niagara and Erie County.
The mayor mentions you can access Narcan even if their building is closed, their police window is open 24/7, just ask for it.
The Lockport Municipal Building is located at 1 Locks Plaza, Lockport, N.Y. 14094.