New Naloxone and Fentanyl Testing Kit Distribution Box Eases Access to Harm Reduction Tools

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) is now among one of the few hospitals in the state that has placed a free Naloxone Distribution Box at the entrance to its emergency department to help stem the tide of Fentanyl overdoses. Free Fentanyl test strip kits are also available in the distribution box. The public can access these resources 24/7 with no questions asked.

“The more naloxone and fentanyl test strip kits that are readily available to the public, the more we can reduce overdoses from dangerous drugs,” explains Sherrie Cisneros, RN, Substance Use nurse navigator at PVHMC. “The Naloxone is free for anyone to take, easy to use and is a highly effective nasal spray that reverses the effects of heroin, morphine and oxycodone, allowing the person to breathe again.”

Free fentanyl test kits that can detect if the substance is present in any material are also available at the location. Street drugs can be tested for the presence of fentanyl and potentially save lives before ingestion even starts.

PVHMC has offered free naloxone since 2020, but the new distribution box placed outside of the emergency department allows the public to walk up and take what they need on their own.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100,000 lives are lost every year to overdose. For the first time in ten years, the CDC reports that fatal overdoses have held steady. Additionally, drug-related overdoses and poisoning have begun to slightly drop. Health officials say that mitigation efforts to combat the current overdose epidemic are making a difference, but the crisis is ongoing.

The PVHMC Substance Use Disorder program provides emergency medical care, community education, prevention tools, resources and referrals. Learn more here.

The box was gifted to the hospital by Cheryl and James Dale.