In a compassionate response to the rising fentanyl use and related fatalities, we have unveiled an opioid harm reduction station—a testament to the power of community and grassroots efforts in overdose prevention.

This initiative launched today and offers a simple yet profound solution: an unlocked, clearly marked box that houses Narcan kits and fentanyl test strips, available free of charge to anyone in need. This life-saving station is not just a box; it’s a symbol of care, a hand extended in times of crisis, and a reminder that no one is alone in this fight.

Our Brooklyn Park station is the third of its kind in the metro area, established through the Overdose Prevention Project by the local ad agency SixSpeed. It stands as a living memorial to Mateo Swanson, whose life was tragically cut short by an overdose in this very community a year ago, at 22 years old.

Mateo’s parents, Terri and Bob Swanson fueled by love and loss, approached PoP to house the box on our Campus. Pause. Take a beat… It’s a call to mindfulness, to consider the consequences of one’s actions—a lesson learned at an unimaginable cost. Fentanyl is implicated in 92% of all opioid-related deaths in the state. This stark reality underscores the critical importance of interventions like the harm reduction station.

These kits will be restocked weekly by the family, with all 20 kits typically claimed within that time frame. It’s a sobering reminder of the demand for such resources and the ongoing battle against opioid overdoses.