Mona Serna (Case Manager), Dr. Ahmed Dadzie (Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services Director) and Kyla Medina (Case Manager) announce pilot naloxbox program. Courtesy photo
RAC NEWS RELEASE
he Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services Department is introducing naloxboxes at select locations following newly analyzed data showing an increase in overdose deaths and related emergency room visits.
Naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan, is used to reverse an opioid overdose by blocking opiate receptors in the patient’s nervous system. The medication was previously distributed in the county without significant scientific guidance or mapping, which led to missed opportunities to reach the people who could benefit the most.
A team including HHS Director Dr. Ahmed Dadzie, the Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office, the Española 911 Call Center and community stakeholders started combing over 911 call logs in July 2025 to gather data beginning in 2019.
“I often hear the term ‘social justice’ being thrown around and think to myself, ‘Are we able to advance social justice without the effective utilization of data?’” Dadzie says. “In this initiative, data is being utilized meaningfully to bring hope and justice to those going through the cycle of addiction who are at risk of losing their lives and loved ones through overdose.”
The department also spoke with residents of the county with lived experience in dealing with overdose and issues accessing Naloxone, which revealed that most unhoused people who use substances and are provided Naloxone find the medication “too bulky to carry.” This leaves people without accessible Naloxone in emergency situations.
Naloxboxes, which are similar to automated external defibrillator boxes that aid in heart-related emergencies, contain Naloxone rescue kits. The county placed 19 boxes in public buildings, detention facilities, local businesses, schools, hospitals and residential areas between Oct. 17 and 29 to increase accessibility to the overdose-reversing drug.
“Each box represents hope: the chance for someone to survive an overdose and continue their story,” says HHS Special Projects Coordinator Cruz Anaya.
HHS employees will analyze three-month data in February to determine if there is a change in the trend of high overdose numbers in Rio Arriba County and provide a recommendation for officially adopting and expanding the Naloxbox program in more high-need areas.