Oklahoma Shifts Overdose Prevention Strategy Away From Vending Machines

Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse is shifting its strategy to reduce overdoses in the state.

The department said maintaining the machines was too costly and wanted to help Oklahomans in other ways by working with law enforcement, schools, and non-profits.

The department also said it had run into several issues with the machines, like malfunctions and stock shortages.

Sasha Teel is the Chief of Staff at the Department of Mental Health and said that it made the department re-evaluate things.

"The outcomes that we hoped for were just not there, so as an agency and as a leadership team, we stepped back, looked at what the data showed and said, 'Hey, this was not a cost-effective way to use taxpayer dollars'," Teel said.

Instead of the vending machines, posters with QR codes will soon be up for people to get information on where to get naloxone or test strips in the mail.

They are also available at OkImReady.org/overdose.

The department said it will continue to offer treatment and equip first responders to treat overdoses.