Isaiah 58 Ministries is grateful to have a Naloxone box installed in front of the building on South Grand Blvd. Thanks to Dee Mack and the team at the St Louis City Department of Health, these access points are being installed around the city.
In 2023 and 2024, Missouri saw a drop in deaths from overdoses. This success is largely attributed to the amount of overdose reversal medication, such as naloxone, that we have been able to get into the hands of community members. Distribution of this tool, along with education and conversation about overdoses, fentanyl, and recovery options, can help save lives.
What is Naloxone?
“Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. But, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine.” National Institute on Drug Abuse
Narcan is the brand name of one form of naloxone.
We are also the home to a NaloxBox inside of the ministry, thanks to PreventEd. Mounted near a fire extinguisher, in an easy to access location, this box is another tool we have to keep people safe and alive. In this world, keeping naloxone on hand is just as important as band-aids and defibrillators. When you need it, you need it to be right there.
PreventEd explains more about their NaloxBox program:
“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.”
In addition, we work to keep naloxone stocked on our shelves in our food pantry. Guests have told us that they have unfortunately had to use it – on the bus, in their neighborhood – and that they’re grateful that they had some on hand. Harm reduction comes in many forms, and we are working to be a part of the movement for health and healing.