Sanford installs naloxone boxes at Bemidji, Bagley ERs
Photo by Mindy Broden
January 16, 2026
Contact:
Jillian Johnson
Media Relations Specialist –Bemidji Region
(218) 333-6090 / jillian.johnson@sanfordhealth.org
BEMIDJI, Minn. – Sanford Health is expanding access to life-saving overdose prevention tools with the installation of naloxone (Narcan) distribution boxes in the emergency departments in Bemidji and Bagley.
Naloxone is a safe, easy-to-use medication that reverses opioid overdoses by restoring breathing when opioids slow or stop respiration. The new distribution boxes allow anyone to access naloxone at any time by simply removing the doses they need with no prescription, training or questions asked.
This effort is supported by a Minnesota Department of Health Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant and reflects Sanford Health’s ongoing commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for substance use, including opioid use disorder.
Overdose risk is particularly high following hospital discharge or release from incarceration. Providing naloxone during these high-risk periods is one of the most effective ways to prevent overdose deaths and create opportunities for patients and the community to connect with additional care and support when they are ready.
Naloxone is non-addictive and safe for adults and children. It has no effect if opioids are not present in a person’s system, and multiple doses may be used if needed. Anyone can administer naloxone, and no medical training is required.
It is important to seek medical attention after an overdose reversal using Narcan. Narcan’s effects are temporary and medical attention is necessary to increase the likelihood of survival from an overdose.
In addition to overdose prevention, Sanford Health offers treatment for opioid use disorder, including medications such as buprenorphine, which reduce cravings and significantly lower the risk of future overdoses. Sanford Health’s Recovery Medicine clinics in Bemidji and Cass Lake provide medication treatment, counseling and care coordination for individuals seeking support for opioid, alcohol and other substance use disorders.
By expanding access to naloxone and evidence-based treatment, Sanford Health aims to save lives, reduce preventable deaths and support long-term health and recovery across the region.
For more information about Sanford Health, visit sanfordhealth.org.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 57 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
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