San Antonio, TX (October 24, 2024) – Rise Recovery, a leader in substance use recovery support for youth and families, will unveil a pioneering initiative in the fight against youth opioid overdoses: San Antonio’s first free Narcan vending machine. We invite the media and public to attend this reveal on November 1, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Rise Recovery, 2803 Mossrock, San Antonio, TX 78230.

“This is more than just a vending machine—it’s a lifeline for our community’s youth,” said Evita Morin, CEO of Rise Recovery. “Each week over 20 U.S. teens die from overdose. Fentanyl is a dangerous poison being laced into drugs and made to look like something your doctor would prescribe. This over-the-counter nasal spray has the ability to reverse a deadly overdose and save a young person’s life. Let’s protect our sons, daughters, and their friends by ensuring Narcan is in every parent’s first aid kit through initiatives like this vending machine.”

The program sources Narcan through Naloxone Texas, a program of Be Well Texas at UT Health San Antonio. “We’re thrilled that Rise Recovery is installing a naloxone vending machine on its campus to make this life-saving medication more accessible to the San Antonio community. The recent declines in overdose deaths across the United States are in part because of naloxone-access programs like this, which work to get naloxone into the hands of those who need it most,” says Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, Founding Director, Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders at UT Health San Antonio. 

This groundbreaking project marks the beginning of a larger citywide initiative, with organizations Corazon San Antonio and San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness planning to deploy additional machines across San Antonio in the future.

This Rise Recovery naloxone vending machine will provide a life-saving intervention featuring custom artwork by a local artist in recovery. This initiative emerged from a partnership between Rise Recovery, Conscious Conduit, a social justice nonprofit, and Livegy, whose mission is to fight the opioid epidemic by making opioid reversal drugs accessible for all. The program prioritizes accessibility for youth, young adults, and families—communities that often lack adequate overdose prevention resources.

Rise Recovery warmly invites members of the media and the public to join us for this initiative in San Antonio’s fight against youth overdose. The afternoon will include demonstrations of the vending machine and opportunities to hear from community leaders and families affected by the opioid crisis.

To attend this reveal, please contact [email protected]. For more information about Rise Recovery’s programs and initiatives, visit our website to learn more about www.riserecovery.org.

About Rise Recovery

Rise Recovery is a non-profit organization based in San Antonio, Texas, dedicated to providing life-saving resources and support for resilient teens, young adults, and families overcoming the effects of substance use. For nearly 50 years, Rise Recovery has offered steadfast, no-cost support to the community, empowering individuals and families to embark on a journey of recovery and healing.