Tapestry Health proposes public naloxone boxes, trainings for Hadley

Tapestry Health told the Hadley Board of Health on July 29 that it will supply and maintain publicly accessible naloxone “NaloxBox” cabinets for the town and offer trainings for residents and school communities. Pedro Alvarez, director of harm-reduction services at Tapestry Health, said the boxes are waterproof, include a QR code with usage instructions and would be stocked with three to four naloxone kits and a breathing mask.

Alvarez said Tapestry’s mobile and Northampton brick-and-mortar services served 32 unique Hadley residents in 86 encounters between May 2025 and May 2026, including nine new participants, 18 deliveries to Hadley residents and three referrals into substance-use treatment. “Access to naloxone remains one of the most effective tools available to save lives and reduce fatal overdoses,” Alvarez said.

Board members asked about placement, locking and maintenance. Katie Lessard, program manager for Tapestry’s Northampton and Greenfield sites, described Tapestry’s experience placing boxes near college campuses, bus stops and public-pathway locations. Alvarez said the organization would keep the Hadley boxes unlocked to maximize access and would include Hadley in regular “rounds” to check and restock boxes; “we would keep them unlocked,” he said. He added Tapestry will replace damaged boxes and maintain an internal map of locations.

On funding, Alvarez said Tapestry received state Department of Public Health and opioid-task-force funding and had also used Hadley funds to buy boxes and supplies. He said Tapestry currently has six boxes available and plans to install four in Hadley, keeping two as spares.

The board asked about schools. Alvarez and Lessard said Tapestry has worked with school officials elsewhere — after months of conversations Westfield State added naloxone education to its health curriculum — and said they have trained school nurses and recovery-high school students. The board requested staff follow up with Dr. McKenzie and school administrators about deploying boxes and trainings at Hopkins Middle School and the high school.

Next steps: board members will send suggested site locations to staff; staff will relay proposed sites to Tapestry and the board will review placements at an upcoming meeting. Tapestry emphasized it will handle restocking and outreach; the installation and any formal town approvals will follow the board’s location recommendations.