Vernon County health department becomes direct Narcan provider; committee discusses distribution, lock boxes and vending machines
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Summary
The Vernon County health department received certification to be a Narcan direct provider, will manage statewide-supplied doses locally and continue outreach to expand distribution and lock-box placements; the committee discussed storage, expiration dates, vending-machine models and partnerships with hospitals and schools.
Vernon County public-health staff reported that the county health department has received certification to be a Narcan direct provider, allowing staff to obtain Narcan from the state without routing requests through the sheriff’s office.
Ashley Schlicht, identified in introductions as a Vernon County public health nurse, agreed to manage the county's Narcan direct-provider program and associated monthly state reporting. Staff said the county has recently received a shipment and currently holds roughly 25 boxes (about 50 doses) for local distribution; those doses carry manufacturer expiration dates and will need to be rotated into use before expiration.
Committee members discussed existing lock-box distribution that places secure medication lockboxes at clinics, pharmacies and community events. One participant estimated the county had distributed or held about 60 lock boxes for local use, and members urged more active outreach so boxes do not sit unused at clinic sites. The committee also reviewed examples of vending-style dispensing machines in neighboring counties and at hospital lobbies; members raised logistical questions about who would maintain and restock a vending machine, potential vandalism, and which partner (for example a hospital) would assume staffing and supply responsibilities if a machine were placed on its site.
Schools and emergency-service locations were identified as priority placements. Committee members noted that most local school districts already have naloxone in at least one building and urged continued coordination with school nurses to expand access where appropriate. Staff also described plans to add signage and include Narcan locations in orientation and public information so visitors and new employees know where it is stored.
The group discussed next steps including confirming whether Narcan dose limits in policy remained unchanged, expanding distribution at public events and evaluating vending-machine models used elsewhere before pursuing a local machine.
