September 8th, 2023
More than 400 naloxone boxes have now been installed countywide
County Executive Adam Bello today announced that boxes that dispense free doses of naloxone are now available in all Monroe County parks. Expanding the availability of naloxone is a key element in Monroe County’s efforts to fight opioid and fentanyl addiction and prevent opioid overdose-related fatalities. In total, 54 naloxone boxes have been installed in various locations in all 22 County parks, providing greater public access to this life-saving medication.
“From the outset of my administration, our goal has been to save lives by reducing opioid and fentanyl overdoses and overdose-related deaths —the availability of naloxone plays a critical role in that work,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “The Monroe County Addiction Services team has aggressively distributed naloxone countywide. With an overdose situation, every second is critical and these overdoses occur in every corner of Monroe County.”
Naloxone, the generic form of Narcan, rapidly reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and restoring normal breathing. Each naloxone cabinet contains 12 doses of life-saving naloxone nasal spray along with instructions on how to administer naloxone to someone who has overdosed on opioids.
“The Monroe County Department of Public Health Addiction Services Team has worked extremely hard to provide education and Narcan to our community. We are very grateful to Monroe County Parks Department for their partnership in this important effort,” said Dr. Tisha Smith, Monroe County Addiction Services Director. “We know that Narcan greatly improves the chance of survival post-overdose. Saving lives provides us with the opportunity to educate and motivate individuals towards a recovery pathway.”
To date, the Monroe County Addiction Services IMPACT team has installed 420 naloxone boxes at various locations throughout Monroe County, including private businesses, commercial retail stores and restaurants, and public spaces. Through those 420 naloxone boxes alone, IMPACT has dispensed more than 3,200 naloxone kits communitywide. The team is on target to meet the goal of 500 boxes in the community by the end of this year.
“Naloxone boxes are very effective. The County was the first group to show interest in a low income area such as ours and I really appreciate the support,” added Janique Hardwick, owner of the Lash Trap and naloxone box host.
As of June, IMPACT distributed over 16,000 naloxone kits throughout the county — surpassing all of 2022’s naloxone distribution in just six months. Additionally, the Addiction Services IMPACT has provided naloxone training to more than 4,100 community members in 2023, ensuring the public is properly trained on how to administer this life-saving medication. Monroe County’s efforts to distribute naloxone are among the most aggressive and ambitious in New York State.
For a complete listing of naloxone box locations in Monroe County, visit www.monroecounty.gov.
