On Tuesday, St. Louis County announced the debut of naloxone vending machines, which will be placed in health centers, businesses and a church throughout the region.

Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is a fast-acting medication intended to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

“We’re removing barriers, removing stigma, replacing it with compassion and making sure (naloxone) is available when and where it’s needed most,” said Kanika Cunningham, director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health.

This new, free resource is part of the “I Carry for My Community” campaign by St. Louis County — a campaign that aims to combat the opioid epidemic using harm reduction and accessible medicine.

While Cunningham emphasized the machines’ locations in North County during the unveiling on July 15, the machines will also be available at the South County Health Center, 4580 S. Lindbergh Blvd., and River Rock Church, 1601 Telegraph Road.

The vending machines were funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant, which allows the naloxone inside the machines to be free to use. 

This is St. Louis’ third consecutive year of declining opioid overdose deaths, according to a release by St. Louis County. There were 161 overdose fatalities reported in 2024 — over a 50% decrease from the 338 in 2021.

“Every life is worth saving, and no one should lose a loved one to something preventable,” County Executive Sam Page said. “Three years of declining overdose deaths prove our investment in harm reduction is working.”