Mayor Tishaura Jones | City of St. Louis
Mayor Tishaura Jones | City of St. Louis
The City of St. Louis has installed its first Narcan distribution box at Soulard Market, an initiative led by the Department of Health's Behavioral Health Bureau. The box, stocked with several dozen doses of Narcan, was placed near the market's main entrance on May 22.
This installation marks the beginning of a broader effort to place additional Narcan boxes throughout the city in the coming months. The Behavioral Health Bureau has partnered with the St. Louis Public Library system to target neighborhoods with high overdose rates.
"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 emphasized that collaboration with partners has been key in implementing both Narcan boxes and other outreach programs. "Soulard Market Manager Bob Ray was open and instrumental in making this happen for us and the community," she noted.
In addition to establishing locations for Narcan distribution boxes, bureau staff provide monthly training on its use for City departments and community groups.
Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, Director of Health for the City of St. Louis, stated that this initiative aligns with their mission to deliver essential health resources directly to communities in need. "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."
Recently, Behavioral Health Bureau staff administered Narcan to three individuals showing overdose symptoms near their office. In response to ongoing community needs, two more boxes are scheduled for installation at 1520 Market Street and City Hall in the coming weeks.
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