EASTHAMPTON – The NaloxBox program, which was launched by the Easthampton Health Department in early May, has officially expanded to include local businesses across the city.

A naloxbox is a small, clear box labeled “Opioid Rescue Kit” that contains four doses of naloxone-otherwise known as Narcan – which is a medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose.

In the first phase of the program, naloxboxes were placed in city buildings, including City Hall, the Emily Williston Public Library, Mountain View School and Easthampton High School. The most recent expansion now includes naloxboxes at Learn to Cope in Eastworks, River Valley Co-Op, Abandoned Building Brewery, The Boylston Rooms and Se7ens Sports Bar and Grill.

“The more naloxone we can get into the community, the better,” said Easthampton Health Director Bri Eichstaedt. “This was a new program for us, so in the beginning stages we wanted to start off small with just city-owned buildings. We always had the intention of expanding.”

Eichstaedt told Reminder Publishing that the Health Department wanted to strategically place the boxes throughout the city based on overdose data, proximity to the public safety complex, businesses with evening and night hours, as well as the proximity to already existing boxes.

“The program has gone much smoother than anticipated,” Eichstaedt said. “Working with the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services/Hampshire HOPE has gone really smoothly, and their team is so supportive of this program and our department. The businesses we partnered with have been incredible; they all were happy to host a box.”

As far as next steps, Eichstaedt said that the city recently received a box from Hampshire HOPE. The Health Department also met with the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee last week to discuss some gaps between River Valley Co-Op and the Bak Plaza, as well as a gap between the library and Southampton, down Route 10.

“We are going to try and place our last box in one of those areas,” Eichstaedt added. “However, overall, I would say we’re going to see how it goes with our existing locations, and if there’s a need to expand, we would definitely look into it.”

Residents can visit the naloxbox tab on the city’s website where a short video explaining how to use naloxone is available. There is also a map of the current box locations and a longer video on naloxone and fentanyl awareness: https://easthamptonma.gov/623/NaloxBox-Program.

Naloxone has no adverse side effects, according to the Easthampton Health Department. Anyone can take naxolone from the box, including in non-emergency situations. Each business has agreed to notify the department when naloxone needs to be replaced.