Advocate urges Daytona leaders to place Narcan vending machines after personal loss

Jean Bailey, who leads a nonprofit called Advocating for Others, told the redevelopment board she is campaigning to place Narcan vending machines and manual dispensing boxes in public locations after her son died of a drug overdose on the boardwalk. She said she has placed manual machines and partnered with Volusia Recovery Alliance to distribute Narcan at events and in several municipalities.

Bailey said the boxes contain Narcan and personal protective equipment and some machines are electric and hold many boxes; she described manual crank boxes she has installed in local businesses and said the boxes provide 24/7 access. She told the board that a single box from retail outlets costs about $50 and that her group has placed multiple units in Volusia County — she said there are at least seven machines countywide and four in DeLand, and that a larger electric machine at one location can hold roughly 130 boxes.

Speakers at the meeting voiced support: one board member said the vending units helped save a life the previous night and another said the county and the police chief have been supportive. Bailey said she has a letter of support from Chief Jakari Young and that county leaders are working on county property siting; she asked city staff to discuss placing at least one dispensing unit at or near city hall to increase public access.

Board members advised Bailey to coordinate with the city manager’s office and staff and to forward a formal request; a staff member offered to help arrange a meeting. Bailey also described recent vandalism to a site and said her volunteers check machines multiple times per week to keep them stocked.

This item was presented as public comment; no formal board vote or ordinance change was made at the meeting.