Salem Installs Narcan Boxes Downtown To Combat Opioid Overdose Deaths

SALEM, MA — Five Salem downtown locations now have distribution of the opioid overdose emergency treatment Narcan as part of a regional effort to combat overdose deaths across the North Shore.

The Salem Board of Health said Narcan boxes are located in Lappin Park near the Bewitched statue, the pedestrian mall across from the large fountain, outside of the public restroom on Artist Row, near the flag poles at Riley Plaza and near the swings in Charlotte Fortin Park on Derby Street.

City officials said the distribution boxes are in response to opioid overdose deaths becoming a public health priority after 217 Essex County residents died of opioid overdoses in 2023, including 32 in Salem.

The city said the boxes are part of its efforts to offer "low-barrier ways to provide Narcan to the public."

Officials said the boxes are stocked with Narcan, Fentanyl test strips and other items that can be used to prevent or treat an overdose. There is a QR code and phone number for the public to contact the Board of Health if they find a box is out of Narcan or other resources or needs repair or replacement.

The boxes will remain filled as long as weather permits since Narcan cannot be stored in extremely hot or cold temperatures. Once the temperature consistently falls below freezing during the winter, the Salem Board of Health will distribute Narcan at its offices during normal business hours.

Anyone interested in training on the administration of Narcan can contact Public Health Nurse, Suzanne Darmody at sdarmody@salem.com or 978-619-5651.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)