Carmel High School graduate Brenden Mudd has designed Nove, a portable kit resembling an earbuds case that can carries overdose medicine and instructions on preventing overdoses. Photo from Nove.

News Release

BELLINGHAM, WA. — Brendan Mudd, 24-year-old industrial designer and 2019 Carmel High graduate has created Nove, a key chain case designed to carry a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone.

Mudd came up with the idea when he was in his third year at West Washington University. After witnessing the effects of addiction and homelessness in the Bellingham area, he decided to focus on responding to opioid overdoses.

Through talking with members of the community, Mudd learned that lack of portability and social stigmas prevent people from carrying naloxone, known under the brand name Narcan. Both problems are addressed by Nove.

The device, around the size of an earphone case, is attached to a keychain or a backpack, blending into everyday objects. A quick-reference sheet describing the recognition of overdose and how to administer naloxone is included in each case. Users must get medications individually from organizations such as pharmacies, health departments or organizations such as End Overdose.

Growing up in Carmel, Mad was able to walk the path of innovation and craftsmanship. Sid Swartzendruber, chairman of the engineering department and technician at CHS, said Mudd stood out from the start. Swartzendruber said Mudd’s talent for engineering and artistic design, especially his ability to imagine and build, were of special note.

Nove was officially launched on Friday, April 11 and Mudd has distributed over 4,000 units to the non-profit organizations, universities and health departments. He said partnerships with local and state-level health institutions are essential to increase the community’s naloxone saturation and reach more people. His mission is to make overdose response tools more accessible across the United States.

Mudd is particularly passionate about delivering the Nove cases to university students. It is a group he says is is often overlooked in overdose prevention efforts.

Visit novedevice.com for more information.