MCHD’s Prevention & Wellness Kiosk Program Expands to Tillman’s Corner

A free-resource kiosk program run by the Mobile County Health Department is coming to Tillman’s Corner, filling a gap the agency has been trying to close since 2024. The expansion follows the relocation of Vista Medical, the health department’s highest-dispensing partner site, from Spring Hill Avenue in Mobile to a new location at 4400 Rangeline Road in Tillman’s Corner.

“Vista Medical is our highest dispensing site, and we value this continued partnership,” said Danielle Simpson, who oversees MCHD’s Overdose Prevention Program. “We have searched for a location in Tillman’s Corner since 2024, and we are excited to finally deploy a kiosk to provide support.”

A Program Built to Reduce Overdose Deaths

The Prevention & Wellness Kiosk initiative dates back to November 2024, when MCHD’s Overdose Prevention Program partnered with LTS Health to place kiosks throughout Mobile County offering free naloxone kits, condoms and keyed cable gun locks at no cost to the public. The goal, health officials say, is to make basic harm-reduction and public health tools easy to access without barriers.

Since the program launched, five kiosks have been placed across Mobile County. Vista Medical’s move to Tillman’s Corner will bring the total presence in the community to a new area of the county that has lacked a dedicated site, despite years of effort by MCHD to secure a location there.

The existing kiosks are located at Shell Health, 4321 Downtowner Loop North in Mobile; Semmes Pharmacy, 8985 Moffett Road in Semmes; and MCHD’s Women, Infants & Children (WIC) office at 19255 North Main Street in Citronelle. A kiosk previously located at B-Bob’s Bar in downtown Mobile will soon be relocated to another site, according to the health department.

Thousands of Free Resources Distributed

The kiosks have already made a measurable dent in the community’s access to overdose-prevention tools. As of July 31, the five kiosks had dispensed 359 naloxone kits, 177 keyed cable gun locks and 91 condoms. Some kiosks have also distributed 18 two-in-one drink spike tests and six fentanyl test strips.

Naloxone, sold under brand names such as Narcan, is a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Health officials describe it as one of the most effective tools available for preventing overdose deaths when administered quickly.

“Too often, stigma and lack of access keep people from getting the tools they need to protect themselves and others,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “Our goal is to meet people where they are with practical resources that support health, safety and prevention.”

Timed to International Overdose Awareness Day

The Tillman’s Corner expansion comes as MCHD marks International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness of overdose prevention and honoring those who have died from drug overdoses.

“In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, we encourage residents to visit any designated Prevention & Wellness kiosk to receive two Naloxone kits at no cost,” Simpson said. “Naloxone is a life-saving medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, making it a critical tool in combating the overdose epidemic.”

Simpson also emphasized that residents who carry and use naloxone are protected under Alabama’s Good Samaritan law. “We emphasize that carrying Naloxone is legal and that the Good Samaritan law provides immunity to individuals who administer Naloxone in an emergency, protecting them from legal repercussions,” she said.

MCHD’s Overdose Prevention team continues to focus on both prevention and connecting individuals with recovery resources. Residents seeking more information about the kiosk program or recovery options can call 251-410-6322.

About Naloxone and Alabama’s Good Samaritan Law

Alabama lawmakers passed HB 208 in 2015, providing immunity for prescribing and administering an opioid antagonist such as naloxone. In March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan nasal spray for sale without a prescription.

International Overdose Awareness Day was first held in 2001 in Melbourne, Australia, and is observed each year on Aug. 31.