Missoula looks to curb overdose deaths with free, accessible medication

Four new vending machines dispensing opioid-reversal medication will be available starting next month in Missoula’s hotspots for overdose calls — no quarters needed.   The United Way of Missoula County is facilitating the Dose of Hope project in partnership with the Missoula Drug Safety Coalition and Missoula Public Health in an effort to reduce the county’s opioid overdose deaths, which increased 83% from 2019 to 2022.   “We want to see those fatalities go down, and if people have access to Narcan, we’re less likely to see more overdoses,” said Leah Fitch-Brody, substance use disorder