Foundations to Freedom, a recovery-focused organization, said it is expanding its Narcan vending machine initiative in Volusia County.
With new funding from the Opioid Abatement initiative, the organization plans to install six additional vending machines in areas with high overdose rates.
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Currently, a Narcan vending machine is located at the organization’s administrative offices at 339 East New York Ave. in DeLand.
On Thursday, a second machine will be placed at The Grocery Box, a known high-risk overdose location on the county’s east side. This expansion aims to increase access to Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, for those affected by the opioid crisis.
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In 2023, Florida’s emergency responders attended to over 102,000 drug overdoses, highlighting the urgent need for accessible overdose-reversal solutions like Narcan. In 2022, more than 6,000 people in Florida died from opioid overdoses, underscoring the importance of expanding naloxone distribution.
Katherine Russell, Founder and CEO of Foundations to Freedom, highlighted the significance of the initiative.
“This funding allows us to reach more individuals in crisis, providing life-saving intervention where it’s needed most,” Russell aid. “Every Narcan kit dispensed represents a potential life saved, and we are committed to ensuring that no one in our community is left without access to this critical resource.”
The additional vending machines will be placed in identified overdose hotspots, supporting the county’s harm reduction efforts. This is part of a larger mission to provide accessible resources and support for individuals and families navigating recovery.
For help with addiction recovery, visit Foundations to Freedom’s website here.
