New overdose prevention effort puts lifesaving opioid reversal drug directly in community hands
San Mateo County, California – A new attempt to cut down on overdose deaths is making naloxone more widely available across San Mateo County. A growing network of free distribution stations is putting the lifesaving drug directly into the hands of the people.
The San Mateo County Overdose Prevention Coalition has set up Naloxone Stand Boxes, which are small boxes that can carry dozens of doses of the medicine that reverses the effects of opioids.
Local groups can apply to host the boxes for free if they can keep them safe, open to the public, and full of supplies on a regular basis. The goal is clear: make naloxone available immediately when it is most needed.
Naloxone, which is given as a nasal spray, can reverse an opioid overdose in just a few minutes. It is meant to be used by anyone close, such as friends, family, or strangers. Because overdoses can kill someone quickly, giving them medicine before help arrives can save lives. Each stand has clear instructions on how to use it.
In December, the first stand box was put up at Allcove San Mateo, a youth wellness center for people ages 12 to 25. The statistics from the county in 2024 shows how important the campaign is. There were dozens of deaths connected to opioids and more than a hundred visits to the emergency room, including cases involving young adults in their early twenties.
The alliance, which is organized by the county’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, brings together community groups, first responders, and transportation partners to fight the overdose issue through education, outreach, and more services. Leaders believe that part of the job is also to decrease the stigma around drug use by raising awareness and encouraging open communication with at-risk groups.
Plans also call for putting naloxone vending machines in certain mental health clinics, in addition to the stand boxes. Outreach events are already happening. For example, free naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and prevention literature were recently given out at a SamTrans station and during the county’s annual homeless count.
As the county works to stop more overdose deaths, coalition members keep meeting and are pushing more people in the community to get involved.
