The Ohio Turnpike has partnered with RecoveryOhio and Project DAWN to provide Naloxone at all 14 service plazas. 

In 2022 statewide, unintentional drug overdoses resulted in nearly four times as many deaths as motor vehicle crashes. 

Naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, is a nasal spray that can reverse an overdose caused by opioid drugs, such as heroin, illicit fentanyl and prescription pain medications. Naloxone blocks the deadly effects of opioids on the brain and restores consciousness and breathing.

Naloxone kits are also available at all toll plaza interchanges and eight maintenance buildings along the Turnpike. 

The statewide installation is part of Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine's RecoveryOhio initiative and the Ohio Department of Health's Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) to expand access to naloxone through increased distribution.

"In an overdose situation, minutes matter. By providing Naloxone at service plazas and to Turnpike employees, we are hoping to save lives and give people a chance to access recovery resources," Governor DeWine said.

All Ohio Turnpike foremen and assistant foremen, who are often the first to arrive on the scene of an emergency, carry naloxone kits in their maintenance vehicles.  

"Ohio Turnpike employees and travelers who recognize that an individual requires medical assistance from an apparent opioid overdose or is accidently exposed to an opioid, now have the wherewithal to locate and administer naloxone at our service plazas," said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the turnpike commission. .

Additionally, nearly 800 Ohio Turnpike employees, including frontline maintenance/roadway workers and service plaza staff, have completed the turnpike commission's online course, “Saving a Life with Naloxone,” which provides training on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and administer naloxone.

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