New Narcan Vending Machines Bring Life-Saving Access to Sedalia
Sedalia took a meaningful step toward community safety this month as the Pettis County Health Center announced that all three of its new Narcan vending machines are fully stocked and available for public use. The project, designed to expand access to the overdose reversing medication Naloxone, reflects a forward-thinking approach to public health and emergency preparedness. For the first time, residents can obtain free Narcan around the clock at convenient locations throughout the city.
The initiative was requested, purchased, and implemented by the Pettis County Health Center, which applied for and received opioid settlement grant funding from the City of Sedalia to bring the idea to life. After securing the funding, the Health Center selected the vending units, coordinated installation, and established a stocking and monitoring plan to keep the machines consistently supplied.
One machine is located outside the Pettis County Health Center, another stands north of the entrance at the City of Sedalia Municipal Building with plans to relocate it based on community need, and a third is available on the east side of the State Fair Community College campus near the Fielding Building. Each machine provides free Naloxone along with simple instructions, making the medication accessible to anyone who may need it in an emergency situation.
The project has been guided by Dawn Williams, Mental Health Coordinator at the Pettis County Health Center. Williams has worked closely with partners across the community to research the best equipment, identify the most accessible locations, and build a system that makes Naloxone easy to find and easy to use. She noted that the Health Center pursued the project to strengthen community readiness and ensure that if an emergency occurs, help is close at hand.
This preparedness effort also reflects the experiences of families who understand what is at stake. Among them is Sedalia mother Susie Howe, whose sixteen year old son, Jacob, died after taking what he believed was a standard prescription pill that turned out to be counterfeit. Howe has shared Jacob’s story with students and community groups in hopes of encouraging young people to make safe choices and reminding residents that having Naloxone on hand can offer a critical lifeline in an unexpected moment.
City officials said they were proud to support the Health Center’s request because it provides a practical and immediate benefit to the public. They note that making Narcan readily available empowers everyday residents to respond if they encounter someone in need and supports a community culture that prioritizes health, safety, and compassion.
With all three machines now operational and maintained by the Pettis County Health Center, the machines give residents one more tool to use in an emergency, similar to the way defibrillators, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits are placed in public spaces as precautionary safeguards. The overarching message shared by project partners and families is simple. Being prepared saves lives, and having Naloxone accessible to everyone gives the community one more way to care for one another.