Page 19 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

County launches “Well Wayne Stations” Initiative

By Sarah Shurge about the experience.”
Every day, hundreds of people die Participation as a host site is low
from overdose in the U.S., with an av- barrier. HHVS and CBHJ will handle
erage of eight deaths daily in Michi- all financial obligations, coordina-
gan alone. Currently, Wayne County tion, installation, maintenance, and
ranks as the highest county in Michi- stocking of Well Wayne Stations.
gan for overdose. There is no financial burden and
An effective method for reducing only minimal responsibilities for par-
opioid overdose in the community is ticipating organizations.
distributing naloxone (Narcan®). “We've only had the Well Wayne
Naloxone (in any form) is effective at Station for two weeks and have al-
reversing overdoses, including over- ready seen it get a lot of usage. We're
doses due to opioid contamination. pleased to be able to make these re-
The Wayne County Department of sources more accessible to everyone
Health, Human, and Veteran Serv- in our city,” said Wolak. “Lives have
ices (HHVS) is working in partner- been saved by naloxone obtained
ship with Wayne State University from boxes like these.”
Center for Behavioral Health and HHVS and CBHJ envision a
Justice (CBHJ) to recruit municipal county where all residents have
and community sites for participa- naloxone on-hand.
tion in the “Well Wayne Stations” Ini- Getting naloxone into the commu-
tiative. nity, especially to people who are at
This initiative provides free pub- Stop an overdose. Save a life. Free Narcan now at the Wayne Public Library’s Wayne highest risk of overdose and those
lic health vending machines and/or closest to them, is the only evidenced
PorchBoxes (newsstand-style storage Road entrance. based public health strategy for pre-
boxes) and positions them as low plies (fentanyl test strips and xy- The primary goal of the “Well venting opioid overdose deaths.
barrier access points for naloxone lazine test strips) within the commu- Wayne Stations” Initiative is to re- Naloxone has no effect on individ-
(Narcan®) and drug checking sup- nity. duce overdose and expand access uals that do not have opioids in their
and linkage to lifesaving overdose re- system.
versal and harm reduction supplies For more in-
(naloxone and drug checking sup- formation about
plies). ending overdoses,
A Well Wayne Station has been visit endoverdose-
placed at the Wayne Public Library. wayne.org
“Partnering with the county to If you’re an organization inter-
host a Well Wayne Station at the li- ested in becoming a host site, you
brary is a great way to get safe and can fill out a brief 5-10 minute sur-
effective harm-reduction options like vey (scan QR code) or email
naloxone in front of a broad audi- jchami@waynecounty.com and
ence,” said Jody Wolak, Wayne Pub- danielle.lenz@wayne.edu to set up
lic Library Director. “Before we an informational meeting.
agreed to host the station I reached Thank you to the Wayne Public Li-
out to other libraries that have simi- brary for being a participating host
lar distribution boxes and they had site for the “Well Wayne Stations” Ini-
overwhelmingly positive things to say tiative!

The Wayne Dispatch · June 2025 · 19