Public health nurse urges Richland to host naloxone pickup site, to join OD Map data sharing

During the public-comment period of the March 3 council meeting, Shelly Little, a Richland resident and public health nurse with the overdose prevention and response program, asked the city to host a naloxone (Narcan) pickup site so people at risk can obtain doses and educational materials locally.

"We're looking for a distribution site, also called a pickup site in Richland," Little said, suggesting the Richland Public Library or community center as potential locations and noting the health district can restock weekly from state-supplied doses and provide leave-behind naloxone to park rangers.

Little also urged Richland Police and Fire to contribute nonfatal and fatal overdose incident data to OD Map, a national system that collects geolocation and naloxone-administration information to help prioritize outreach. She said Kennewick, Pasco, Benton County and West Richland currently contribute through fire and police departments, and that Richland is not yet participating.

Council thanked Little and suggested the request could be a staff follow-up item for "John" (a staff contact referenced during the meeting). No formal council action was taken at the March 3 meeting; Little provided contact information for follow-up.

Also during public comment, Kyle Sullivan, Benton County director of human services, said the county’s five-year homeless housing plan is in final draft and open for public comment after a Commerce-granted extension to April; he noted Tony Lehman is Richland’s representative on the steering committee and invited public review of the draft.

Next steps: council indicated the naloxone and OD Map requests could be referred to staff for follow-up; no formal motion was recorded.