Silver City, NM – March 30 – The New Mexico Recovery Coalition (NMRC), in partnership with Silver City's cannabis wellness club, Grateful Living, has proudly introduced New Mexico's first and only naloxone vending box. Strategically placed within the Grateful Living storefront, the vending box offers free Narcan (naloxone) to the public during store hours thus providing life-saving resources to address the ongoing opioid overdose crisis.
According NMRC, it has been confirmed through Bernie Lieving, the Statewide Overdose Prevention Education Coordinator and NMRC's contacts at the New Mexico Health Care Authority that this initiative is the first of its kind in the state. NMRC and Grateful Living's innovative collaboration exemplifies a bold and compassionate approach to substance use recovery while truly meeting vulnerable populations directly where they are—a core principle of harm reduction.
Grateful Living is known locally for its outreach program, which provides free cannabis to marginalized community members, particularly unhoused individuals, with an emphasis on promoting mental health and wellness. Both organizations have recognized that many beneficiaries of these vital services are often poly-substance users or are closely connected to those at high risk for overdose. The introduction of accessible and no-cost Narcan through this vending box initiative directly responds to the critical public health need to save lives.
"This partnership addresses real-world challenges faced by our community," said Brian Stengel, Founding Director at NMRC. "Our goal is clear: saving lives, reducing harm, and fostering meaningful pathways toward mental health recovery and overall wellness."
By pioneering the integration of naloxone distribution within a cannabis wellness setting, NMRC and Grateful Living are forging an unprecedented approach to community support, stigma reduction, and holistic recovery.
For more information about this initiative or to support ongoing harm reduction and street outreach efforts, visit www.recoverynm.org or contact
