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Date: 5/17/2022
EASTHAMPTON – Starting May 2, the Easthampton Health Department in partnership with the Healthy Youth Coalition and Hampshire HOPE launched a NaloxBox program in the city.
A NaloxBox is a small, clear box labeled “Opioid Rescue Kit” that is mounted on the wall and contains three doses of Naloxone, or Narcan as it is commonly known. Narcan is a medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose. The goal is to establish these boxes in public areas to give easy access to people if need be in the event of someone overdosing on drugs.
Each box contains a rescue-breathing mask, medical gloves and step-by-step instructions on using the Narcan. NaloxBoxes have been mounted in city hall, the Emily Williston Public Library, Mountain View School and Easthampton High School. Health Director Bri Eichstaedt said the program will eventually be offered and expanded to local organizations and businesses.
“Harm reduction is a proactive and evidence-based approach to addressing substance use. This is a small step in addressing the opioid epidemic,” Eichstaedt said. “Having Naloxone available immediately can significantly decrease the chances of saving a life while waiting for first responders, especially when seconds matter.”
Eichstaedt said it has been a goal of hers to implement the NaloxBoxes in Easthampton after seeing Northampton launch and operate their program. The pandemic caused a short delay in this effort but the news of a 13-year-old seventh grader in Connecticut who overdosed and died in their school put this project on the fast track for prevention’s sake.
She added while there is nothing to note on her end of the levels of opioid abuse in the Easthampton schools, the rise of the opioid epidemic in the state and country, and stories of the deaths of children in other communities made it an easy choice for the health department to incorporate NaloxBoxes within some of the schools.
While she has been asked by a handful of parents where the data is to support this need, the health director said that she is working from the perspective of public health and prevention.
“Our whole goal of public health is preventing a tragedy from happening; we don’t want to wait until a kid overdoses to implement these. We know that it’s happening in surrounding states and communities so there’s really no reason for us to wait for it to happen in Easthampton,” Eichstaedt said.
Eichstaedt added it was important to note that Naloxone itself is not harmful and has no adverse side effects, including if one were to use it accidentally on a person who is not experiencing an overdose.
“There are no harmful effects of using it. I’ve heard a few comments like ‘What happens if a kid gets their hands on it?’ Nothing. Literally,” Eichstaedt said.
According to statistics received from the Easthampton Police Department, there were 89 overdoses in Easthampton from 2018 to March of 2022. Of those 89 overdoses, 14 individuals died as a result. Between 2020 and 2021, 22 overdoses occurred in public locations in Easthampton.
Eichstaedt said that even if the access to NaloxBoxes does not lower rates of drug use or overdose, it will help decrease the stigma while educating those who have no knowledge of Narcan and its uses. She added that she has already heard members of the public say to her they had no idea Narcan was not dangerous and used as a lifesaving tool.
“I wouldn’t say I was worried [about stigma, negative reaction from public] because I’m confident in this program and in public health and prevention and harm reduction, but I definitely knew there would be some concerns,” Eichstaedt said. “I think a lot of times with harm prevention a lot of people think it encourages use, but scientifically it shows it doesn’t.”
In a press release, Healthy Youth Coalition Coordinator Rebeca Edwards said, “Counterfeit pills today can be cut with extremely dangerous substances such as fentanyl, which can lead to accidental death from just one pill. Despite our best efforts, youth sometimes can gain access to illicit substances and are not always aware of the dangers.”
The release also said, “By taking this proactive approach and making Naloxone accessible, the city of Easthampton is creating a safer environment for all of its residents.”
Eichstaedt said it’s been an awesome feeling for her to be able to do this type of public health work. When she started in 2018, the department did not have the capacity for this type of project at all. She credited the growth of the Health Department to the Healthy Youth Coalition and the increase of staff.
“Back in 2018 we were reactive and just doing health inspections, now we’re at a point where we can implement programs like these,” Eichstaedt said. “We’ve gotten a lot of support from the mayor and our City Council, and that’s all come full circle to get where we are now.”
Eichstaedt noted that people are allowed to take the Narcan in non-emergency situations and it is not limited to emergency situations.
“If you were to walk by this box and you have a family member at home that uses and you want to have Narcan on you, then it’s totally fine to take it as well. There’s no alarms, and you don’t have to break any glass to open it,” Eichstaedt said. “People are welcomed to take the Narcan if they want to, and we will refill it.”