Emily’s Hope is continuing its mission to save lives by expanding free naloxone access in western South Dakota. New naloxone distribution boxes are now installed at Monument Health and Fork Real Community Café in Rapid City.
Two naloxone distribution boxes have been placed at Monument Health locations—one at Monument Health Family Medicine Residency Clinic and another at the Monument Health Rapid City Hospital—making it easier for individuals and families to access the life-saving opioid reversal medication in a crisis.
“We are excited to partner with Emily’s Hope and the South Dakota Department of Health to bring these naloxone boxes to Monument Health. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to saving lives and addressing the opioid crisis with practical, community-focused solutions.” Steven Tamang, M.D., Addiction Medicine, Monument Health.
Another box is now available at Fork Real Community Café, a nonprofit, pay-what-you-can restaurant committed to fighting food insecurity and building community.
These distribution boxes are great additions to the existing box at Project Recovery Rapid City.
“These boxes are about putting life-saving tools directly into the hands of the people who need them most—no questions asked,” 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.”
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, rapidly reverses opioid overdoses and can restore normal breathing within minutes. Each Emily’s Hope naloxone box is stocked monthly with kits that include two doses of naloxone, gloves, and information on treatment and recovery services.
The anonymous 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 community partners.
Since the start of the program, Emily’s Hope has distributed more than 15,000 naloxone doses 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. If you encounter a suspicious substance or an unresponsive person, do not touch anything and call 911 immediately.
To find a naloxone box near you or support Emily’s Hope’s overdose prevention efforts, visit: https://emilyshope.charity/find-narcan/
About Emily’s Hope
Emily’s Hope is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to save lives through evidence-informed education, compassionate support, and financial assistance for recovery. Founded by award-winning journalist Angela Kennecke after the tragic overdose death of her daughter Emily, the organization has become a national voice for prevention and hope. Emily’s Hope offers a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum used across the country, the Grieving Out Loud podcast, and on-the-ground initiatives such as naloxone distribution, a Post-Overdose Response Team, and a Youth Prevention Coalition in South Dakota. The organization also provides treatment scholarships to help individuals access care. Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
For additional media information, please visit emilyshope.charity/media.