Minneapolis Installs First Northside
NARCAN® Vending Machine
The Minneapolis Health Department and Hennepin County partnered to install the City’s first NARCAN® (naloxone) vending machine on the Northside. This life-saving resource expands access to the opioid overdose-reversing drug.
Located at Fire Station 14 (2002 Lowry Ave. N.), this is the second vending machine in the city. The vending machine:
- Provides 24-hour access.
- Contains more than 100 boxes of NARCAN, each holding two doses.
- Is free to community members with no barriers.
Fire Station 14 also serves as the City’s Safe Station. This space is where people struggling with addiction and substance misuse can be connected with resources, such as peer recovery specialists.
The Health Department began the NARCAN vending machine pilot program last July, launching the City’s first NARCAN vending machine at Fire Station 21 (3209 E. 38th St.). Through April, more than 1,700 boxes have been dispensed.
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What is NARCAN?
Naloxone is often referred to by its brand name NARCAN
It's a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, potentially saving someone’s life.
Naloxone works on overdoses with:
- Heroin
- Morphine
- Oxycodone (OxyContin(R))
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin(R))
- Buprenorphine
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NARCAN saves lives
Learn a lifesaving skill and give a chance at recovery
You never know when you might save a life. It happened at the grocery store for Cynthia, a certified peer recovery specialist and community advocate with the Twin Cities Recovery Project.
She found an unconscious man who had overdosed in a parking lot. With no prior experience, she used naloxone to revive him before the paramedics arrived.
Cynthia is now committed to carrying naloxone and educating others about its life-saving potential. By saving a life with naloxone, you can give someone another chance at life and recovery.
Find NARCAN (naloxone) near you
Recognizing and responding to an overdose
The signs and symptoms of an overdose include:
- Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Gasping or gurgling
- Pinpoint size pupils
- Slow heartbeat or low blood pressure
- Cold or discolored skin
Once you recognize someone is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately and describe the situation. Then administer NARCAN.
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Administering nasal spray with NARCAN
- Remove the spray from its packaging.
- Place the nozzle in a nostril.
- Spray the medicine by pressing firmly on the pump.
- Monitor the person closely for breathing. If they do not start breathing normally within 2 to 3 minutes, administer a second dose in the other nostril.
- Stay with the person and keep them on their side until help arrives.
- Naloxone may wear off after 30-90 minutes, so the person could relapse again. Therefore, keep them under observation and be prepared to administer more if needed.
Watch the CDC’s short clip on how to use Narcan
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Important tips
- NARCAN can be used on anyone who is suspected of an opioid overdose, even if you’re unsure of what substance was used or if they aren’t experiencing an overdose.
- Giving NARCAN to a person who has not overdosed will not hurt them.
- After giving NARCAN, place the person in the recovery position to keep their airway clear and reduce the risk of choking. Place them on their side with their head tilted back slightly.
- When calling 911, it’s best to say that a person is “unresponsive” rather than describing the situation as an overdose. This can reduce stigma.
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Our Story
We protect the environment, prevent disease and injury, and promote healthy behaviors. Our recent stories include:
- Breaking ground on our biochar facility
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Minneapolis awarded 2025 Vision Zero for Youth U.S. Leadership
Read our story
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