VR App Aims to Boost Overdose Response

A team of Illinois researchers is developing a virtual reality training app to help people confidently respond to opioid overdoses using Narcan. 

Led by Southern Illinois University public health professor Wasantha Jayawardene, the project builds on earlier work involving web-based Narcan training. The VR tool, designed for use with Apple Vision Pro headsets, immerses users in realistic overdose scenarios, offering hands-on guidance for recognizing symptoms, administering Narcan, and ensuring safety. Roy Magnuson of Illinois State University, a partner on the project, described the experience as emotionally impactful and physically engaging. 

The effort is funded through an Illinois Innovation Network grant and supported by OSF HealthCare. While the headset’s high cost may limit rural deployment, the team aims to assess whether the immersive format can enhance bystander intervention rates. The app is still in development and not yet available to the public. Researchers view it as one tool in addressing the opioid crisis.