Muskegon County Public Health and Trinity Health Install Narcan Vending Machines Across Region

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Muskegon County has taken a significant step toward addressing its opioid overdose crisis by installing free Narcan vending machines at five new locations across the county. The Narcan kits, which can reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose, are now available at no cost to individuals in need.

The initiative is a partnership between the Muskegon County Public Health Department and Trinity Health, which operates several healthcare facilities in the region. The new vending machines provide the life-saving medication during normal operating hours at the following locations:

• Trinity Health Medical Center – Hackley (1675 Leahy Street, Muskegon)
• Trinity Health North Muskegon (2006 Holton Road, Muskegon)
• Trinity Health Urgent Care (1670 E. Sherman Boulevard, Muskegon)
• Trinity Health Lakes Village (6401 Prairie Street, Norton Shores)
• Muskegon County Marquette Campus, Public Health (1903 Marquette Avenue, Muskegon)

Narcan, a nasal spray containing naloxone, can quickly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses from heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. When deployed fast enough, the medication gives emergency responders time to arrive and provide further care.

Providing these kits free of charge at so many locations strengthens our commitment to addressing the opioid crisis in our communities. Every second matters during an overdose, and this will remove barriers to care by putting lifesaving medication directly into the hands of the people who need it, exactly when they need it.

Michelle Gravlin, Director of Community Health and Well-Being at Trinity Health Lakeshore, said in a statement.

The program aims to get Narcan directly into the hands of those who need it most, eliminating financial barriers that might prevent someone from getting the medication during an emergency. Narcan kits are also available at several other Trinity Health locations across West Michigan, including the Grand Rapids facility at 200 Jefferson Avenue SE.

Overdose Deaths Declining in Muskegon County

The Narcan initiative comes at a time when overdose deaths in Muskegon County have shown improvement. In 2024, 54 people died of drug-related means in Muskegon County. That is a significant drop from 2023, when 86 deaths were drug related.

According to the Office of the Medical Examiner, most of the deaths in 2024 were categorized as accidents. Of the drug-related deaths in 2024, 38 involved opioids.

These figures represent a notable improvement from the previous year. In 2023, 86 deaths were drug related, with 67 of those deaths involving opioids.

The trend mirrors a broader decline in opioid overdoses across Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported a 34 percent reduction in opioid overdoses between 2023 and 2024.

Despite this progress, Michigan still faces a serious public health challenge. In 2024 alone, more than 1,300 people died of opioid overdoses across the state.

Harm Reduction Strategy Saves Lives

Public health officials and medical experts emphasize that making Narcan freely available through vending machines is a critical harm reduction strategy. The medication is most effective when someone who has overdosed can get it quickly, before emergency services arrive.

By placing the vending machines at Trinity Health locations and the county health department, officials have chosen sites that are likely to be accessible during normal business hours. The machines are stocked with enough Narcan kits to serve the community throughout the year.

The Muskegon County Department of Public Health plans to monitor the usage of the Narcan vending machines and consider expanding the program to additional locations if it proves successful in getting the life-saving medication into the hands of those who need it.

Trinity Health and the Muskegon County Department of Public Health have installed the machines in several locations across the county, ensuring that people throughout the region can access the medication they may need.

The Narcan vending machines were installed in April 2026, marking a new chapter in Muskegon County's approach to the opioid crisis. By making the medication freely available through multiple access points, officials hope to save lives and reduce the devastating impact of drug overdoses in the community.