There’s a new tool in the fight against drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island. Publicly available boxes containing naloxone, an anti-overdose drug, have been installed in various social service agencies in Providence.
Dr. Geoff Capraro, a physician at Rhode Island Hospital, helped design the so-called NaloxBoxes, which he likens to a fire extinguisher.
"In other facilities I think other people might have naloxone stored away in a desk drawer, but it might not be where it needs to be. It might not be known to everyone where that medicine is. So we want to make it in a proper place like a fire extinguisher. And anybody can use it and you could save your neighbor or loved one," explained Capraro.
The boxes hold four doses of naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. The idea is similar to defibrillators or fire extinguishers: the boxes will be in public places, with easy to follow instructions. In the coming weeks more than 30 NaloxBoxes will be installed around Providence.
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