STURGIS, S.D. — As hundreds of thousands of visitors flood into the Black Hills for the 85th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Emily’s Hope has partnered with Action for the Betterment of our Community (ABC) to install a naloxone distribution box at The Armory in downtown Sturgis.
The box, stocked with free kits containing the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication, is available to the public with no questions asked. It will remain in place throughout the rally before being relocated within the community for year-round access.
The effort comes after last year’s rally saw two confirmed overdose deaths and at least 12 other suspected overdoses, six of which required intubation, according to South Dakota Searchlight. This year, Sturgis police have already reported an uptick in drug arrests compared to the same period last year, with 14 felony drug possession arrests and 15 misdemeanor drug/paraphernalia arrests on Aug. 1–2.
“The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally brings an incredible influx of people to our town. While it’s an exciting time, with the larger crowds comes an increased risk of accidental opioid overdoses,” said Courtney Ramirez of ABC. “We were lucky enough to partner with the State of South Dakota and Emily’s Hope to provide free naloxone kits to campgrounds, concert venues, and various vendors, as well as a distribution box downtown this year. With these establishments having kits on hand, they can play a crucial role in making the rally safer for everyone.”
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes and restore normal breathing. It is safe, easy to use, and can be administered by anyone, even without medical training.
“Getting naloxone into the hands of the public during highly populated events like the rally is one of the most effective ways we can save lives,” said Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope. “We’re grateful to ABC and Sturgis businesses for supporting this initiative.”
The naloxone distribution program is a collaboration between Emily’s Hope, the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Social Services, the South Dakota Department of Health, and local partners. The organization has installed boxes across the state in locations such as hospitals, libraries, and grocery stores, distributing more than 15,000 doses to date.
A full list of naloxone box locations is available at emilyshope.charity/find-narcan.
