Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center Offers Free Naloxone Kits to Fight Opioid Crisis

The national opioid crisis continues to devastate communities, claiming an average of 130 lives each day, with fentanyl use responsible for 53% of overdose deaths. The number of opioid-related deaths have been increasing in Napa since 2019, spiking by 60% between 2021 and 2022. To help combat the problem, Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa has placed a Naloxone Distribution Box outside its emergency room where anyone can get free lifesaving naloxone 24/7.  

The Napa Opioid Safety Coalition (NOSC) created the Naloxone Distribution Box Project to reduce harm from fentanyl and other drugs by offering free naloxone nasal spray and Fentanyl Test Kits. The Napa County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) supports the program using Opioid Settlement Funds.  

Queen of the Valley is one of eight naloxone box locations throughout Napa County. HHSA has placed distribution boxes at Napa Valley College, Napa County Library, Alternatives for Better Living, Napa County Adult Probation, CommiuniCare+OLE South Napa Campus, OLE Health American Canyon and at HHSA South Campus. 

“We have these naloxone boxes available to the public in eight locations so far,” said Abby Ellison, project manager for Napa HHSA. “The goal is to reduce the stigma of accessing naloxone kits and making them more readily available throughout the county.” 

According to Chi Ma, director of pharmacy at Queen of the Valley, placing a naloxone box outside the emergency room removes barriers to access.  

“People will be less concerned about anonymity or the stigma of going through the emergency room to get a kit,” said Ma. “Our message to the community is these lifesaving kits are available at no cost and with no judgment.” 

The hospital’s Community Health Department and Substance Use Navigator have pledged to keep the box filled to ensure kits are readily available to the Napa Valley community. 

“At Providence, our mission is to serve the community, and we recognize that some Napa County residents are being underserved,” Ma said. “We’re taking action in the community to save lives.” 

In addition to the naloxone distribution program, NOSC has launched a countywide Fentanyl Awareness Campaign with educational presentations and advertising. Last year, the campaign reached 4,000 middle and high school students throughout Napa County. 

The Naloxone Distribution Box Project is part of a unified effort to increase education and reduce harm from fentanyl and opioids. Providing access to lifesaving drugs is a crucial step in helping Napa combat the opioid epidemic. 

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