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Redlands Community Hospital installs self‑service Narcan kiosks; officials say hundreds distributed since December
Summary
Hospital medical director reported two kiosks that dispense Narcan nasal spray and fentanyl test strips anonymously; staff said more than 350 Narcan boxes and 145 test strips have been taken from kiosks since December 2024.
Redlands Community Hospital has installed two self‑service kiosks that dispense Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray and fentanyl test strips, hospital officials told the City Council during public comment.
Dr. Evan Houck, medical director of the hospital emergency department, said the kiosks are intended to increase anonymous, no‑cost access to life‑saving naloxone and harm‑reduction test strips amid a rise in opioid‑related overdoses. One kiosk is located outside the emergency department and a second sits near the outpatient clinic area across the street.
"These kiosks allow individuals to anonymously obtain Narcan nasal spray and fentanyl test strips," Dr. Houck said, noting the Narcan packaging includes simple instructions for administration. He told council the program is funded by the state and opioid settlement funds and is intended to eliminate barriers created by prescription requirements.
Dr. Houck provided usage figures from the hospital’s tracking: staff have stocked the kiosks since December 2024 with more than 400 boxes of Narcan and the community has removed 352; the hospital also supplied over 200 fentanyl test strips and recorded 145 removals. He said the hospital treated over 400 opioid‑overdose cases in the previous year.
Why it matters: Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses if administered promptly, and fentanyl test strips help users detect the presence of fentanyl in street drugs. Hospital officials urged collaboration with the city and community groups to raise awareness of the kiosks and expand distribution.
Next steps: Dr. Houck encouraged the council to help raise awareness among community partners. He said the hospital is prepared to work with the city and local stakeholders on outreach and distribution strategies.
