West Palm Beach, Fla. (August 21, 2024) – Hanley Foundation has installed 26 emergency Narcan dispensers in 20 locations across Palm Beach County. These free and readily accessible kits are the first of their kind in Palm Beach County and were installed on August 20, nearly two weeks before International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.
Hanley Foundation recently placed emergency Narcan kits throughout Hendry, Okeechobee, and Glades counties, before expanding to Palm Beach County. Each cabinet is located inside a publicly accessible building that can store up to 50 boxes of Narcan, with each box containing two doses. Narcan is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter medicine with no negative side effects, even when administered on someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.
Cities in which these new emergency Narcan cabinets are located include Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens. The Narcan kits are at various establishments, including:
- Vita Nova at 3853 Edwards Avenue, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33461
- The Inn at Boynton Beach at 480 Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435
- Club Oasis at 10859 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
- The Lord’s Place at 2808 N. Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
- Fern House Rehabilitation for Men at 1958 Church Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33409
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, Florida reported 7,054 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending in February 2024. Likely due to lifesaving measures, such as access to Narcan, this marked a 10% decline from the 7,879 overdose deaths reported in February 2023. Furthermore, Florida Health Charts recorded that 47,410 doses of Narcan were administered during 2023. A large-scale study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) showed that opioid overdose deaths decreased by 14% in states that enacted Narcan access laws.
Two-thirds of people who died from an overdose had bystanders nearby, but the majority didn’t know how to react in the situation. By recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose, having Narcan readily available, and calling 911 immediately, these prevention methods can save lives throughout the community.
Hanley Foundation continues to raise community awareness about addiction through its various prevention programs and events. For more information on why everyone should carry Narcan, visit hanley.info/savealife.
