Department of Health installs first community Narcan box at Soulard Market, more to follow

The City of St. Louis now has its first Narcan distribution box at the Soulard Market thanks to community outreach efforts by the Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Bureau. The box, which is stocked with several dozen boxes of Narcan, was installed near the main entrance of the market May 22.

The box is just the first of several to be installed around the city in the coming months. The Behavioral Health Bureau has developed a partnership with the St. Louis Public Library system to provide boxes in neighborhoods where the most overdose incidents have been documented.

“Providing access to Narcan is critical to our goal of reducing the number of lives lost to overdoses as we tackle substance abuse in our hardest-hit neighborhoods,” said Dr. Julie Gary, chief of the Behavioral Health Bureau. “We will continue to develop and leverage community partnerships to address the mental health issues driving substance use disorders.”

Dr. Gary said working with partners has enabled the bureau to implement not only the Narcan boxes but other outreach programs as well.

“Soulard Market Manager Bob Ray was open and instrumental in making this happen for us and the community,” she said.

Aside from establishing locations where Narcan distribution boxes can be placed for community use, bureau staff also provide monthly training for City departments and community groups on its use.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, Director of Health for the City of St. Louis, said the initiative is part of the bureau’s mission to meet people where they are and give them access to much-needed resources.

“We want the City of St. Louis to know that we are out here and we’re dedicated to bringing health resources to communities where they’re most needed,” she said. “We want our residents to have access to Narcan and know how to use it, because it can and does save lives.”

Just this month, Behavioral Health Bureau staff were able to administer Narcan to three individuals who were exhibiting symptoms of an overdose near its office. Because of community need, two more boxes are scheduled to be installed at both 1520 Market Street and City Hall in the coming weeks.