RAPID CITY, S.D. — Emily’s Hope has partnered with Monument Health to install new naloxone distribution boxes in Rapid City, expanding access to the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication, just days after officials issued a public alert about a spike in suspected overdoses in Pennington County.
Two of the new boxes are located at Monument Health facilities — one at the Monument Health Family Medicine Residency Clinic and another at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. A third box has been placed at Fork Real Community Café, a nonprofit, pay-what-you-can restaurant dedicated to fighting food insecurity and fostering community.
These locations join an existing naloxone box at Project Recovery Rapid City, further broadening access to the emergency medication in western South Dakota.
“We are excited to partner with Emily’s Hope and the South Dakota Department of Health to bring these naloxone boxes to Monument Health,” said Dr. Steven Tamang, addiction medicine physician at Monument Health. “This initiative reflects a shared commitment to saving lives and addressing the opioid crisis with practical, community-focused solutions.”
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, can reverse an opioid overdose in minutes and restore normal breathing. Each Emily’s Hope distribution box is stocked monthly with free kits containing two doses of naloxone, gloves, and information on treatment and recovery services. The program operates anonymously, with no questions asked.
“These boxes are about putting life-saving tools directly into the hands of the people who need them most,” said Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope. “We are especially grateful to our community partners for recognizing the urgency and stepping up to help prevent more overdose deaths in South Dakota.”
The naloxone distribution program is a collaboration between Emily’s Hope, the South Dakota Department of Health, the Department of Social Services, the Attorney General’s Office, and local partners such as Monument Health and Fork Real Community Café.
Since launching the program in April, Emily’s Hope has distributed more than 15,000 doses of naloxone across South Dakota through partnerships with hospitals, libraries, churches, and local governments.
Community members are encouraged to carry naloxone and learn how to use it. In the event of a suspected overdose, call 911 immediately and avoid touching any suspicious substances.
A full list of naloxone box locations is available at emilyshope.charity/find-narcan.
