
Denver Health unveils naloxone vending machine that offers live-saving drug free of charge
It's available to the community through the National Institute of Drug Abuse's VEnding machine Naloxone Distribution in Your community, or VENDY, program.
"We really engaged our community members with substance use experience to help us build this program. They told us how this could work to build the program," said Nicole Wagner, PhD, Assistant Professor, CU School of Medicine.
"This machine is simple and elegant and so is the message: your life matters regardless of your disease," said Sarah Christensen, MD, Medical Director of Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment, at Denver Health.
Those who want access to naloxone can visit the vending machine at the Denver Health Hospital Campus, outside Pavilion K, located at 667 Bannock St. There are also medication and hygiene kits available for free 24 hours a day.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
17 hours ago
- CBS News
Denver man receives pacemaker using new technology
A Denver man is thanking the doctors at Denver Health after years of care for a heart condition. Bennie Milliner didn't think he'd be here today. He flatlined following a stent replacement in his heart back in 2018. It's a moment he'll never forget. "The next thing I remember is all these people around me and lights and noise, and I just realized that I was over it," said Milliner. "I was just watching the scene, and I was then I looked out and it was like- just like a silvery atmosphere. I couldn't feel my body. God, it was so peaceful. And then I saw this light, and I was thinking, 'oh man, this is it, you know?' And then I heard somebody say, 'we got a pulse,' and I kind of jumped," he said. Doctors at Denver Health were able to get Milliner's heart pumping again after working for over 30 minutes. It's something he'll forever be grateful for and literally holds close to his heart through a tattoo on his left arm. "It says '2-12-18 2nd chance,' and that's the meaning of the tattoo," he said. Seven years later, Milliner is back at Denver Health. "At least a couple of times a month, his heart would stop beating for anywhere from about three to eight to 10 seconds sometimes," Denver Health cardiologist Christopher Barrett said. That led Milliner to get a pacemaker implanted in his heart earlier this month. "If it detects that the heart has stopped beating or it's not beating quickly enough, it's going to deliver a small electrical impulse that's too small to feel, but it's large enough to make the heart know it needs to beat," said Barrett. The pacemaker he has is a new technology, something called a "leadless pacemaker," that goes completely inside the chest with no wire. According to the manufacturer, Medtronic, it's 93% smaller than a traditional device. "It's deployed and released within the heart, grabs onto the tissue, and it stays in there forever," Barrett said. "That capsule has no leads, no generator. It's very inconspicuous, and it's completely self-contained in the heart." Once again, Milliner has a new lease on life thanks to Denver Health, and an appreciation for the doctors, nurses and staff who have helped. "I watch what they do, and it's the care and concern all the time," said Milliner. "It's just incredible."
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iowa attorney general signs letter calling on DEA to ban ‘designer Xanax'
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. (Photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a joint letter to take emergency action to schedule a drug that has been linked to deaths in the state and across the country. Bromazolam is described in the letter penned by Sunday and 20 other state attorneys general as a 'designer Xanax.' The prosecutors say the drug is increasingly contributing to overdose deaths and posing a growing threat to public health. It is also highly potent and unpredictable, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday's office wrote, especially when mixed with opioids. Narcan, which is used to reverse an overdose, is ineffective against the drug in such emergencies. Bromazolam is unscheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act. 'Despite its clear dangers, bromazolam remains unscheduled at the federal level, creating significant challenges for law enforcement and public health officials trying to respond to this emerging crisis,' the attorneys generals wrote. 'Without scheduling, this drug continues to evade traditional regulatory and prosecutorial tools, hindering interdiction efforts and enabling continued distribution through illicit channels.' 'Taking emergency action to schedule bromazolam will help law enforcement remove it from circulation, give prosecutors the tools to hold traffickers accountable, and send a clear signal that this dangerous substance has no place on our streets,' the attorneys general wrote. 'Bromazolam, or 'Designer Xanax' is a lethal, counterfeit drug with no medical use that is highly addictive and killing Americans,' Bird said in a statement. 'It is already an illegal drug in Iowa, and I strongly urge the DEA to take swift and definite action at the federal level to give law enforcement the tools they need to stop this crisis, save lives, and hold traffickers accountable.' This story was originally published by Pennsylvania Capital-Star, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@ Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Child at daycare eats kratom, needs to be revived, police say
A former preschool employee in Mableton has been charged with child cruelty after a 2-year-old was found unresponsive and revived with Narcan. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] An arrest warrant has been issued for a former preschool employee who is charged with cruelty to children. According to the warrant, Kennesha Floy is accusing of leaving 7tabz on a shelf that a 2-year-old ingested. Police said the child was unresponsive before Narcan was administered by paramedics. The incident allegedly happened on Aug. 8. Investigators said Floyd admitted to leaving the tablets on a shelf at Bright Minds Learning and Childcare Center. According to the warrant, 7tabz contains 7-Hydroxymitragynine, with compounds from Kratom. Police said the tablets were left in a room with multiple children. Officials did not provide an update on the child's condition. Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell stopped by the preschool and received a statement from the school, saying the health and safety of the children is of the utmost importance. 'A wrapper from a purchased energy tablet fell on the floor in a classroom and a child picked it up,' they said. 'The teacher in the class retrieved it right away, but the child had put a piece of the wrapper in their mouth. It has been determined that the product caused a severe reaction for the child.' The daycare's spokesperson said they are cooperating with law enforcement officials during the investigation. 'The product that appears to have caused the reaction was not purchased by the school and the school was not aware of the product being in the school,' they said. 'We have reviewed and updated our policies to prevent any similar incidents in the future. The staff member is no longer employed at Bright Minds.' A man who works across the street from the preschool said he was shocked to see police outside of the building. 'I saw a lot of law enforcement cars here on that day. They stayed here all day. I thought that was very unusual. This is one of the best daycares here in the city of Mableton for many years. This daycare has always supported the community a lot of kids go there,' Anthony Guillory said. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning told Channel 2 it is currently investigating allegations concerning the health and safety environment at the daycare. In a statement regarding the alleged incident DECAL said: 'The Department is looking closely into reports of indoor storage hazards, as well as concerns regarding a lack of adequate supervision and vigilant oversight at the facility. DECAL's foremost priority is the safety and well-being of Georgia's children. The Department will conduct a thorough review of the center's practices, policies, and physical environment to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident and to ensure all licensing requirements are being met. Pending the investigation, DECAL is working closely with all relevant parties to address the situation promptly and transparently. The Department will implement corrective actions as needed to ensure the safety and security of all children in care at Bright Minds Learning and Childcare Center. No further information will be provided at this time, as the investigation is ongoing. DECAL remains committed to upholding the highest standards of child care in the State of Georgia and will provide updates as appropriate upon the conclusion of the investigative process. The incident was self-reported by Bright Minds Learning and Childcare Center,' said DECAL Chief Communications Officer Reg Griffin. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Solve the daily Crossword