HIGH SPRINGS, FL (352today.com) – The High Springs Fire Department is proud to announce the launch of a free Narcan distribution program, a new community safety initiative designed to provide access to lifesaving Narcan (Naloxone) in the event of an opioid overdose.

Working together with the Hanley Foundation, the Department of Children & Family Services, and the Florida Department of Health, the department has started installing Narcan distribution units at various sites across High Springs. Current Narcan cabinet distribution points include High Springs City Hall, and the High Springs Fire Department. These units hold free Narcan nasal spray, accessible for emergency use or prevention. Narcan is an effective medication that can counteract opioid overdoses and save lives.

“This resource is not a reaction to a problem,” said High Springs Fire Department Risk Reduction Coordinator Kyle Livingston. “But rather, another preventative tool in the toolbox of community health and safety. In many locations, Narcan is placed with AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) because an overdose is a medical emergency, and every second matters. Placing these lifesaving tools together empowers the community to help before first responders arrive.”

The program places Narcan at strategic, publicly accessible locations to ensure quick access in moments of need. Free Narcan distribution supports a variety of situations, including:

  • Chronic pain management involving opioid prescriptions
  • Patients who experience cognitive decline, where accidental double-dosing may occur
  • Accidental exposure to opioids

This latest outreach project is part of the department’s broader Community Outreach mission and complements existing initiatives, including:

  • Bystander thank-you cards with mental health resources
  • American Red Cross smoke detector distribution program
  • Child Car Seat Safety Checks
  • CarFIT Program
  • Bicycle Helmet Fitting
  • CPR and Stop the Bleed classes

Organizations or businesses interested in hosting a Narcan cabinet or box at their location or receiving overdose response training are encouraged to contact Community Risk Reduction Coordinator, Kyle Livingston, at 386-454-6210 or klivingston@highsprings,gov for more information.