This week, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved an Overdose Protection Task Force “Pilot Program” designed to fight the opioid crisis in the United States.
Holly Holt, Health Officer and Administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Walton County, in her presentation to the BCC said, “[The Task Force] is asking the BCC to authorize a six-month pilot project with up to 10 ‘self-standing pilot boxes’ at county owned sites, and to direct staff to work with Walton County Overdose Prevention Task Force to identify county owned locations to place Naloxone (also known as Narcan) in these rescue boxes.
What is Naloxone or Narcan?
“Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist, which means the drug attaches to the opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. A bystander or medical professional can give Naloxone to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected.
Walton County Responded to 303 Opioid Overdoses Last Year
The Overdose Prevention Task Force will work in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to initiate this life-saving effort. Holt explained that Naloxone is a medicine that can “rapidly reverse opioid overdoses.” She went on to say that over the last year, 303 opioid overdoses were responded to by emergency medical services in Walton County. The number was over 400 in the year prior.
Over the last five years, according to the CDC, Walton County has had increased numbers of deaths from opioid overdoses, though the number of deaths has dropped from its high of 41 deaths in 2021.Okaloosa County, which has roughly two-and-a-half times the population of Walton County, had fewer deaths per 100,000 people (25.5) than its eastern neighbor, Walton County (37.7). Bay County, to Walton County’s East, had just 22 deaths per 100,000 residents.
What is an Opioid?
Holt took time to tell the BCC and those in attendance that examples of opioids include: heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, Vicodin, codeine, and morphine. She emphasized that Naloxone or Narcan has no adverse effects on individuals who do not have opioids in their system. She implied that if someone were to be treated with Naloxone and they were not overdosing on opioids, there would be no harmful effect from treatment with Naloxone.
January 30 – Opioid Overdose Boxes Available to Save Lives
Rollout of the “pilot program” is scheduled for January 30, 2026. One of the key objectives for the Overdose Prevention Task Force is, according to Holt, to raise awareness to prevent opioid overdoses. Representing the Sheriff’s Office was Tracey Vause, Chief of Emergency Services. Vause presented the plan for deploying “boxes” strategically throughout the county at “county-owned” locations. County officials say they will clearly mark the boxes and they will be durable and weatherproof as they will be located outdoors – and most likely in county-owned parks. (See potential locations below)
Boxes to be Easily Identifiable and at Adult Height
Holt shared that the boxes will be “positioned at an adult height” to prevent children from gaining access to the lifesaving drug. The location throughout the county where Naloxone may be obtained for immediate use in an overdose situation currently includes: Walton County Jail Lobby, DeFuniak Police Department, Freedom House – Freedom Life Compass Inc., North Walton Doctors Hospital, Downtown All Things New in DeFuniak Springs, and the Florida Health Department in Walton County in DeFuniak Springs.
Holt and Vause discussed the proposed locations of the “roll out” of the Task Force Overdose Prevention Boxes. Vause indicated that his team will be responsible for ensuring that Naloxone is available when someone goes to the box for the needed Naloxone in an overdose situation. Commissioner Dan Curry (District 1) expressed concern regarding adequately “stocking the boxes” with Naloxone. He believes the boxes placed in strategic locations must be monitored regularly to ensure the life-saving medication is available at the posted sites. Vause responded that the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team will maintain an inventory of Naloxone in the boxes and attend to the demand of those seeking the medicine. Vause added that this is a “Pilot Project”and his team is planning to deploy the boxes in locations that shown the greatest need.
Strategic locations were presented to the BCC as ‘possible sites’ for the Naloxone Boxes. Vause indicated that the plan for the Sheriff’s Office is to install the boxes in locations with the greatest demand. Potential sites for deployment include: Cessna Landing in Santa Rosa Beach (SRB), Hogtown Bayou Boat Ramp (SRB), Grady Brown Park (Freeport), Four Mile Creek Landing, Choctaw Beach Park (Freeport), Morrison Springs County Park (Ponce de Leon), and Padgett Park (SRB). It is important to note that the above locations are proposed, and the exact and final locations for the “pilot program” are still being determined.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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