Free overdose reversal kits are now available in a distribution kiosk outside the emergency department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in San Pedro.
The curbside self-serve kiosk offers no-questions-asked access to naloxone kits.
The hospital has a history of supporting those struggling with addiction through its Recovery Center, which offers behavioral health support and substance abuse treatment. The new naloxone kiosk is designed to serve a need for expanding access to lifesaving tools, hospital officials said in a news release.
“Naloxone is one of the most effective emergency medications we have because it works within moments to restore breathing when someone is experiencing an opioid overdose,” said Dr. Miles Shaw, emergency medicine physician at the San Pedro hospital, 1300 W. Seventh St. “When administered quickly, it can save a life before paramedics or hospital teams even arrive.”
Leaders from Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro gather to mark the installation of a self-serve naloxone distribution kiosk, which provides free, no-questions-asked overdose reversal kits. (Photo Courtesy of Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro)
Naloxone quickly reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids in the brain, the news release said. Narcan is the most widely recognized brand name for naloxone, which refers to the medication itself. Both terms are used interchangeably.
The kiosk demonstrates a proactive effort to reduce barriers and normalize naloxone as a tool for community safety. It also includes QR codes linking to local mental health and addiction recovery resources, ensuring individuals are connected to ongoing support.
Providence St. Joseph in Burbank also has a kiosk outside of the hospital.
“Many hospitals and nonprofit organizations now have free naloxone,” said Stefanie Lai, a nurse and manager of emergency services at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro. “However, most have specific hours and days of the week when people can pick up naloxone or their distribution boxes are indoors, which is a barrier for some.”
With naloxone prescription fill rates remaining as low as 1%, the kiosk is seen as a practical way to ensure lifesaving medication is available when and where it’s needed most — while providing anonymity and eliminating costs that could prevent individuals from otherwise accessing this medication.
“By expanding access to naloxone, we’re putting a lifesaving resource directly into the hands of individuals and families for the moments when it can make the greatest difference,” said Jacqueline Herd, chief nursing officer at Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro. “Every kit taken from this kiosk represents a chance to prevent tragedy.”
From Jan. 1, 2023, to May 18, 2025, Lai said in a written response to questions, the emergency department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro saw 24 patients for unintentional opioid overdoses.
Los Angeles County, she added, reported a 1,652% increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths from 2016 to 2022, with a continued rise to 1,970 deaths in 2023, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
In December, she said, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro’s emergency department saw five patients for fentanyl overdoses.
“The South Bay region, which includes San Pedro,” Lai said, citing county Public Health Department statistics, “has been identified as a high-need area, particularly due to the growing number of fentanyl-involved overdoses among unsheltered and underserved populations.”
The kiosk, she said, is next to the sidewalk in front of the emergency department and “anyone from the public can access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Community members who would like to learn more about the addiction recovery services, including family members who have been impacted by a loved one’s addiction, can visit the Little Company of Mary San Pedro Recovery Center website.
What to know
If you think someone has overdosed on opioids, you should:
Call 911 immediately.
Give naloxone as quickly as possible, if available. Do not wait for emergency workers to arrive before giving naloxone.
Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
Stay with the person until emergency workers arrive.
Naloxone is a temporary treatment. More than one dose might be needed under some circumstances, especially if an overdose event involves illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances.