CSN EXCLUSIVE: EG America Takes Part in Addressing Opioid Crisis
WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Convenience store retailers welcome hundreds of guests every day, thereby becoming part of the fabric of the communities they serve. With many of these communities struggling with the effects of the opioid epidemic — and with opioid overdoses currently the leading cause of death in the United States for adults aged 50 and younger — EG America knew it needed to do its part in addressing this crisis.
That's why the convenience retailer is taking part in the NaloxBox program. Through partnerships with local health authorities, EG America is equipping some of its c-stores with the tools, training and necessary resources to use the NaloxBoxes. The small, clear boxes are labeled "Opioid Rescue/Emergency Kit" and contain four doses of naloxone (commonly known as Narcan), a medication designed to reverse and block the effects of opioids in someone who has overdosed.
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Naloxone, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved over-the-counter nasal spray, only works if an active opioid overdose is occurring. The medication can help people overdosing from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, morphine and oxycodone.
"At EG America, doing the right thing is one of our company's core values. By providing these resources in our stores, free of charge and with no questions asked, we are empowering our team members to support our guests and their loved ones," Franck Lamour, corporate safety manager at EG America, told Convenience Store News. "There cannot be a more positive impact on our business and customers than dedicating time and resources to their safety and wellbeing, which demonstrates just how much we care for the communities in which we live and work."
Since November 2022, NaloxBoxes have been placed in more than 30 of EG America's Fastrac and Cumberland Farms c-stores in New York and Massachusetts. The company is actively partnering with other local health authorities and community health organizations to install more kits in areas where opioid overdose incidents are prevalent.
Combating the Opioid Crisis
According to NaloxBox, more than 100 U.S. lives are lost to opioids daily. NaloxBox is a data-driven, innovative solution to address this epidemic, as it:
- Increases access to publicly available overdose response tools
- Provides technical assistance for naloxone storage
- Improves the capacity of bystander rescuers
- Reduces stigma associated with substance use disorders
- Reduces morbidity and mortality from opioid overdose
Source: NaloxBox.org
"We have also had managers at the store, district and regional level, express interest in the program across all EG America retail banners, and we are working closely with health authorities in those areas to expand the program wherever possible," Lamour added.
According to the corporate safety manager, all store team members are invited to participate in the training, but they are not required to. The number of trained team members varies by store.
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When asked how EG America is communicating to customers its participation in the NaloxBox program, Lamour said that similar to the retailer's first-aid kits and other emergency tools that are maintained as part of day-to-day operations, he feels that having the NaloxBox kits present in stores speaks for itself.
"They are clearly marked and visible, which sends a powerful message to our guests that we are taking important action to support and protect them and their loved ones in the community," he expressed.
NaloxBox is managed by RIDMAT Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Providence, R.I.
Westborough-based EG America operates 1,700 convenience stores. Its banners include Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N' Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill.
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