Three Healdsburg men continue to save lives by distributing Narcan nasal spray throughout Healdsburg public locations, as first reported two years ago in the Tribune.
“Narcan (naloxone) is an amazing lifesaving drug that is simply and quickly administered by nasal spray to anyone suffering an overdose of narcotics such as the very powerful fentanyl,” said retired physician David Anderson, one of the three men who have taken up the mission of making Narcan widely available in the Healdsburg business community. Another retired physician, Walt Maack, and Jeff McGee, licensed family therapist for the Healdsburg Police Department, joined him for the past two years.
Their goal: Distributing free Narcan nasal spray to almost every business, shop, restaurant, bank and hotel around Healdsburg. At least in part due to their efforts, almost every place around the Plaza has Narcan in its first aid kit. They have also taken up the mission at businesses in the Vineyard Shopping Center, in Geyserville and even River Rock Casino in Alexander Valley.
Healdsburg District Hospital is in the process of installing a Narcan for free distribution outside the Emergency Room on University Street.
“It has been amazing how easily this process has been accepted in the communities,” Anderson said. “Several years ago, many would not have known what Narcan is, but now almost everyone knows of it and is aware of the many thousands of deaths in the U.S.A. that are caused by the narcotic crisis.”
More people die of opioid overdoses than die of breast cancer or motor vehicle deaths. The numbers are staggering: 70,000 overdose deaths in 2025; 42,000 breast cancer deaths. And, “An estimated 36,640 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2025,” Maack said. “The helpful news is that Narcan can save lives and should be more widely known and easily available so these overdose deaths can be lessened.”
These men are working on that now, distributing window stickers to all the stores in town that carry Narcan in-house so that people can get Narcan easily and quickly. The stickers, placed on doors so as to be easily seen by people outside, declare, “Narcan Available Here In Case of Overdose Emergency.” They also read, “Ask Inside: No Judgement No Cost.”
North Bay organization Micah’s Hugs, founded in the wake of the death of Micah William Hamlow-Sawyer Jr. of a fentanyl drug overdose in June 2019, provides the window stickers. He was 22 years old.
“Obviously the whole idea is that if someone is found unconscious in the Plaza (or elsewhere), someone can run to these stores and see the stickers on the store windows and hence get Narcan very quickly,” Anderson said. He pointed out the instructions for use on the Narcan boxes, adding that people are advised to call 911 immediately.
“We will save lives with this Narcan availability,” Anderson said. “Saving even one life is worth the time and effort, and will make a difference to the individual, family and to you if you are the one who administers this lifesaving drug.”
Micah’s Hugs (micahshugs.org) sponsors many events and education opportunities in Sonoma County.
