St. Louis, MO - In a groundbreaking initiative to combat opioid-related harm, SSM Health’s Family Birthplace Centers across the St. Louis region are now offering no cost Narcan (naloxone) kits to patients at discharge. This life-saving medication, which reverses opioid overdoses, is being distributed as part of a broader harm reduction strategy aimed at protecting mothers, newborns, and families impacted by substance use.
The initiative stems from years of work by Women’s Services at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - St. Louis, which began collaborating with the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) in 2017 and later with the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MOPQC). A key recommendation from both organizations was to make Narcan easily accessible to childbearing women.
“After years of facing logistical and regulatory hurdles, we were finally able to launch this program in November 2023,” said Becky Boedeker, DNP, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, C-ONQS, Advanced Clinical Nurse – Perinatal. “Thanks to the Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH) and funding from the Missouri Opioid Settlement, we now have the ability to distribute Narcan at no cost.”
The kits are dispensed through a structured workflow approved by hospital pharmacy. Patients with a history of substance use disorder (SUD), those prescribed opioids, or those living in households with opioid exposure are prioritized, but the goal is broad distribution to increase harm reduction efforts in the community.
Since its launch, the program has expanded to all SSM Health Family Birthplace Centers in the St. Louis region. Presentations and training have been conducted at each hospital, and distribution is now active across all sites. The initiative has also inspired similar efforts in the emergency departments at Cardinal Glennon, with interest from St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Narcan kits are housed securely and tracked meticulously to ensure compliance and prevent diversion. Inpatient Education is provided, which includes overdose response steps and local treatment resources.
This initiative is funded through 2038 by the Missouri Opioid Settlement, ensuring long-term sustainability.
To learn more about how this initiative is helping the community, watch KMOV First Alert 4's Segment.
About SSM Health:
Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system working to advance health equity and empower all people to achieve their full potential.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, SSM Health provides convenient access to high-quality community-based services as well as world-class academic medicine, clinical trials, and research studies. The organization’s footprint includes hospitals, physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a fully transparent pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company, and an accountable care organization. As one of the largest employers in every community it serves, the organization’s 40,000 team members and 13,900+ providers are dedicated to fulfilling SSM Health’s Mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.” Like our founding sisters, we care deeply for our communities -- SSM Health reported $470 million in community benefit in 2023, including the provision of more than $346 million in uncompensated care. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
