MBTA Announces Public Access Naloxone Pilot, To Install Narcan Access Cabinets at Five Red Line Stations

In the coming weeks, Narcan will be available to the public at Quincy Center, Ashmont, Andrew, South Station, and Harvard.

The MBTA today announced the installation of cabinets to support a Public Access Naloxone (Narcan) Pilot on the Red Line. In the coming weeks, Naloxone will be available to the public at Quincy Center, Ashmont, Andrew, South Station, and Harvard.

“It’s clear that Narcan saves lives, and we are proud to lead the way as one of the six transit entities that have joined the White House’s ‘The Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose’ initiative. Given the role our stations play in the communities with the thousands that traverse them, it makes them ideal pilot locations to include as part of this project,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “Narcan is proven to save lives, and while our Transit Police officers carry Narcan, this pilot will soon make it more readily available at five Red Line stations for any members of the public who understand how to administer it as well. Information regarding Narcan and its use will be prominently displayed alongside the Narcan locations. We thank our state partners for funding this pilot, the Harvard College Overdose Prevention and Education Students for their ideas, Senator Keenan for his support, and the MBTA Policy, Stations, and Red Line Operations teams for their diligent work on deploying these cabinets.”

The purpose of this pilot is to increase public access to lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, taking advantage of the MBTA’s centrally located and well-trafficked transit stations along the Red Line. Three freestanding and unalarmed cabinets containing two doses of Naloxone will be available at each station along with signage in English, Spanish, and Chinese on how to recognize an opioid overdose, how to administer Naloxone, and how to contact emergency assistance. The cabinets will be installed in the unpaid and paid lobby areas as well as near or inside publicly accessible station restrooms.

MBTA staff will perform routine checks on the cabinets, record-keeping, and maintenance of the cabinets as needed. As a public access pilot, MBTA staff will not receive specialized training or be expected to administer Naloxone. However, local health organizations provide free Naloxone administration training, and overdose education and training. The Commonwealth provides information about how to access education and training, and how to access Naloxone via their Harm Reduction Program Locator. Transit Police Officers also currently carry Naloxone and are trained on how to use it.

The MBTA will share information about the program with community-based organizations within the Red Line service area including local health organizations to increase awareness of the availability of Naloxone at Red Line stations and how the public can sign up for free Naloxone administration training.

This program is funded through $95,000 in earmarked funds as part of the Commonwealth’s FY24 budget connected to the Department of Public Health’s statewide strategy of promoting harm reduction efforts and community-based harm reduction services. The remaining Red Line stations will be evaluated for installation at the end of the pilot phase.

Statements of Support

Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD
“Overdose deaths are preventable. Making naloxone more accessible and available where people need it most, including in these Red Line stations, will help save lives. This pilot builds on our public health focus on expanding access to harm reduction resources across Massachusetts.”

MA State Senator John Keenan
“This news is exciting on so many levels. First, making Naloxone available will save lives. We are also reducing the stigma associated with helping a person who uses drugs. And we are encouraging public participation in government by highlighting a case where community members saw a need and took action. This plan originated from two Harvard University students, Jay Garg and Sajeev Kohli, who were concerned with overdoses at Red Line stations and came up with an idea to do something about it.” Jay Garg and Sajeev Kohli are part of the Harvard College Overdose Prevention and Education Students who worked to launch this initiative.

Keagan Yap on behalf of the HCOPES Team
“Harvard College Overdose Prevention and Education Students (HCOPES) is proud to support the MBTA’s Public Access Naloxone program. HCOPES is a student-led initiative that supports data-driven strategies for overdose prevention and harm reduction, and the team has previously worked alongside Massachusetts State Senator John Keenan, the MBTA, and many additional community stakeholders to help bring the program to fruition. HCOPES recognizes the life-saving potential of the Public Access Naloxone program to reduce opioid overdose fatalities and encourages the public to learn more about the program and naloxone administration.”

Cambridge’s Chief Public Health Officer Derrick Neal
“The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) has provided guidance to MBTA officials on the implementation of this initiative. Opioid overdose data analyzed by CPHD shows that areas of high foot traffic, such as MBTA stations and surrounding streets, have higher rates of overdose incidents. With that in mind, CPHD commends the MBTA for its work towards making life-saving Naloxone more accessible during overdose emergencies.”