Google Maps update could help save millions, provides addiction recovery tools

This year, Google Maps has had some really useful updates. It can monitor your commonly used public transportation routes, tell you what a restaurant’s most popular dish is, and even predict how crowded the bus or train will be on a given day.

Now, the next Google Maps update could help save millions of lives by making addiction recovery resources more accessible. According to CNET, the update will show people where they can attend more than 83,000 recovery meetings in more than 33,000 locations, including Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Google Maps will also help people suffering from addiction find Naloxone, a non-prescription drug that reverses the effects of an overdose in emergency situations. Anyone can type “Naloxone near me” or “Narcan near me” into the search bar to find the drug.

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These updates come after Google’s search results revealed people were looking for recovery support more than ever before. This makes sense, considering the current opioid epidemic sweeping the U.S.

Google Maps previously started listing places where people can appropriately discard unused medications, and it already has an addiction recovery support page called Recover Together. But these latest feature updates bring Google’s social impact to another level.

Google built these tools in honor of National Recovery Month this September. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Recovery Month, and Google Maps’ update is just the thing the country needs to bring awareness and resources to people in need.