CLEVELAND — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that naloxone kits will soon be installed at rest areas across the state thanks to a recently formed partnership.

What You Need To Know

  • DeWine said more than 130 boxes are being placed at 65 rest areas

  • According to the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio recorded 4,915 unintentional drug overdoses, which is four-times greater than the more than 1,200 fatalies caused by car crashes within the same period

  • In 2022, Project DAWN distributed more than 205,000 kits, which led to more than 18,000 known overdose reversals

The naloxone kits will have Narcan in them, which is the nasal spray. Naloxone is the opioid-overdose antidote that helps block the deadly effects of opioids, and it's harmless to those who may not be having an overdose but still receive it. 

DeWine said more than 130 boxes are being placed at 65 rest areas. 

The partnership is with the RecoveryOhio initiative, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Health’s Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone). 

According to the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio recorded 4,915 unintentional drug overdoses, which is four-times greater than the more than 1,200 fatalies caused by car crashes within the same period. 

"Increasing access to naloxone is critical to combatting the opioid crisis and decreasing the number of overdose deaths in Ohio,” said DeWine in a press release. “By placing Naloxboxes in rest areas across the state we are providing more opportunities to reverse the deadly effects of illicit opioids and providing opportunities for Ohioans to choose recovery.”

In 2022, Project DAWN distributed more than 205,000 kits, which led to more than 18,000 known overdose reversals.

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