Naloxone vending boxes launch in Henry County and Martinsville as overdose prevention effort expands across Southwest Virginia

Naloxone vending boxes are coming to Henry County and Martinsville as part of a Southwest Virginia overdose-prevention push that also covers Roanoke. Anthem HealthKeepers Plus and the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition announced in mid-May 2026 that new dispensers will put the overdose-reversal medication in reach at locations people can access without a pharmacy visit or a prescription.

The boxes work the same way other public-health dispensers do: a person can obtain a naloxone kit without signing in or identifying themselves. That low-barrier design reflects the evidence on harm reduction, which consistently shows that removing administrative steps saves lives by reducing the time between someone recognizing an overdose and having a dose available to use.

Southwest Virginia has faced above-average opioid overdose rates for years, with Martinsville and Henry County among communities where the crisis has stretched public-safety and emergency-response resources. Expanding access to naloxone — also marketed as Narcan — does not require a person to be in a treatment program or to have previously interacted with county health services. Anyone who encounters an overdose can pick up a kit and use it.

Officials and advocates have framed the vending-box approach as a complement to existing services, not a replacement for treatment referrals, recovery support, or clinical care. The goal is to close the gap between the moment an overdose happens and the moment help arrives, particularly in situations where emergency response times are long or where people near the scene are not certain who to call.

Specific installation locations in Martinsville and Henry County were expected to be confirmed in the days following the announcement. Residents looking for the nearest box can contact the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition or check with the Henry County Health Department for placement updates.

Source: Reporting based on WSLS 10 coverage, May 12, 2026. See WSLS: Naloxone vending boxes launching in Henry County, Martinsville and Roanoke.