LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching a new smartphone app that can help residents prevent overdose deaths. OpiRescue is available to the public and to first responders through Apple iOS and Google Play.

The app, which is offered in English and Spanish, provides a list of overdose symptoms and a step-by-step diagram and text guide to treatment. With the phone’s GPS feature, it can direct rescuers to the nearest pharmacy that stocks Naloxone, a life-saving overdose reversal drug. It also offers a list of treatment options and other resources for education, prevention, and tracking.

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The app is free to use and anonymous. Aggregate data about the locations of overdose reversals will be shared with MDHHS Partners, allowing them to track which communities are most likely to experience opioid use disorder and allocate more resources to those areas.

“Preventing opioid deaths includes offering a variety of strategies to provide residents tools when and where they need them,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “The OpiRescue app will support those who may encounter an overdose to immediately begin live-saving treatment to an affected individual.”

Residents can download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Those seeking more information on the overdose reversal drug Naloxone are encouraged to visit Michigan.gov/Naloxone.