Redlands Community Hospital launches Narcan distribution kiosks to combat opioid crisis

In a significant move to combat the opioid crisis, Redlands Community Hospital has launched a naloxone distribution project aimed at reducing overdose deaths in the Yucaipa area. During the City Council meeting on January 27, 2025, Dr. Evan Houck, the hospital's medical director of the emergency department, presented the initiative, which is part of a state-funded program designed to provide free Narcan nasal spray to the community.

The project addresses the alarming rise in opioid-related fatalities, particularly those linked to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent than heroin. Dr. Houck highlighted that California has seen a staggering 120 percent increase in opioid-related deaths from 2019 to 2021, with Redlands Community Hospital treating over 400 overdose cases last year alone.

To facilitate access to this life-saving medication, the hospital has installed three self-service kiosks in strategic locations: two on the main campus and one at the Yucaipa Clinic on Fourth Street. These kiosks allow individuals to anonymously obtain Narcan and fentanyl test strips without the need for patient registration, ensuring privacy and ease of access.

Since the kiosks became operational in December 2024, they have dispensed 352 boxes of Narcan and 145 fentanyl test strips, demonstrating a strong community response to the initiative. Dr. Houck emphasized the importance of collaboration among the hospital, city officials, and community stakeholders to raise awareness and promote the program further.

This initiative represents a proactive step towards safeguarding the health of residents and addressing the urgent public health challenge posed by the opioid epidemic. As the community rallies around this effort, the hope is to significantly reduce the number of overdose deaths and provide essential resources to those at risk and their families.