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Missouri city deploys medication-dispensing machines

Photo: The City of Sedalia

December 24, 2025

The Pettis County Health Center has expanded community access to life-saving emergency medication with the installation of three Narcan vending machines, now fully stocked and operational at key locations throughout the city, according to a recent Facebook post published by the City of Sedalia (Missouri).

The initiative, announced this month, allows residents to obtain free naloxone—an opioid overdose-reversing drug—24 hours a day. The project was designed to strengthen emergency preparedness and provide a "forward-thinking" approach to public health, officials said.

The Pettis County Health Center purchased and implemented the project after applying for and receiving opioid settlement grant funding from the City of Sedalia. The Health Center is responsible for stocking and monitoring the machines to ensure a consistent supply.

Dawn Williams, a mental health coordinator at the Pettis County Health Center, who guided the project, said the center pursued the project to strengthen community readiness and ensure that if an emergency occurs, help is close at hand.

Williams worked with community partners to select equipment and identify accessible locations. The machines are located at:

• Pettis County Health Center: Outside the facility
• City of Sedalia Municipal Building: North of the entrance (with plans to relocate based on community need).
• State Fair Community College: On the east side of campus near the Fielding Building.

Each unit dispenses free naloxone along with instructions for use.

City officials said they supported the grant request to empower residents to respond to emergencies, viewing the machines as precautionary safeguards similar to public defibrillators or fire extinguishers.

The effort is particularly significant for local families affected by the opioid crisis, including Sedalia resident Susie Howe. Howe's 16-year-old son, Jacob, died after ingesting a counterfeit pill he believed was a standard prescription. Howe, who shares her son's story to encourage safe choices among youth, said accessible naloxone offers a critical lifeline in unexpected moments.

Project partners emphasized that the machines provide the community with a practical tool to prioritize health, safety and compassion.