NaloxBox Locations
In 2021, the St. Louis Metro Region accounted for 48% of all drug overdose deaths in Missouri and 79% of all drug overdose deaths among Black individuals in Missouri. St. Louis City has one of the highest overdose rates in the country, especially for Black men. Opioid overdose deaths among Black St. Louisans have increased more than 500% in the last 5 years, and according to the City of St. Louis Medical Examiner drug overdose fatalities increased in the city by 30% from 317 cases in 2017 to 448 cases in 2021. “This is tragic, especially since we have the tools to prevent such deaths. This NaloxBox program is one of those tools and will assist in saving lives,” said Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, Director of Health for the City of St. Louis.
PreventEd and People’s Health Center have partnered to install 75 NaloxBoxes in two of the areas hit hardest by opioid overdoses in Eastern Missouri–St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. The boxes will be installed on walls, similar to defibrillator boxes, and each contain two doses of intra-nasal Narcan (naloxone), which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The nasal spray can be administered by minimally trained bystanders, and comes with easy-to-understand instructions in multiple languages.
