<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2syOeo_0wEmKJpm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2syOeo_0wEmKJpm00" width="980" height="653" ><figcaption>Jonah</figcaption></figure><p>I thought I saw a new bird house on a recent walk in the Hudson Valley. I couldn't have been more wrong.</p><p>Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between official government business and a local art project. With <a href="https://wrrv.com/poughkeepsies-little-free-libraries/">little libraries</a> and even <a href="https://wrrv.com/butt-corners-road-ornament-new-paltz-ny/">hilariously-defaced road signs</a> popping up all across the Hudson Valley, I wasn't surprised when I saw little red boxes on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1d3z9a_0wEmKJpm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1d3z9a_0wEmKJpm00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Red boxes have recently been installed on the Wallkill Rail Trail (A. Verano)</figcaption></figure><h2>Red Boxes on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail</h2><p>What I <i>thought</i> was a cute structure meant to hold free books or shelter birds actually turned out to be a much more serious community outreach attempt. While they started <a href="https://wrrv.com/narcan-naloxone-boxes-new-paltz/">appearing</a> in Ulster County towns in 2022, they have now spread to local walking trails.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3FapJj_0wEmKJpm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FapJj_0wEmKJpm00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>ORACLE boxes contain Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose (A. Verano)</figcaption></figure><h2>Opioid Overdose Response Kits in Wallkill, NY</h2><p>The small red structures are O.R.A.C.L.E. boxes. O.R.A.C.L.E. stands for Opioid Response As County Law Enforcement, and while the acronym may be clunky, what's inside the boxes could save a life.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ULbjH_0wEmKJpm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ULbjH_0wEmKJpm00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Opioid overdose response boxes have been appearing all across the Hudson Valley (A. Verano)</figcaption></figure><h2>Narcan Available in the Hudson Valley</h2><p>Inside each box is a dose of Naloxone, also known as Narcan, which is meant to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Since 2006, it has been <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_overdose_prevention/">legal</a> for good Samaritans to administer Narcan in New York if they believe someone is experiencing an overdose.</p><p>While these kits may seem new to some residents (including myself), reports of local towns exploring the use of Narcan kits in public buildings (and now local trails) dates back several years. Towns like Wallkill have also offered Narcan <a href="https://www.townofwallkill.com/archived-community-news.html?view=article&amp;id=560&amp;catid=80">training</a> in the past.</p><p>The O.R.A.C.L.E. boxes on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail were installed with the endorsement of the Ulster County Sherriff's Department. Narcan is also available at many local pharmacies, often free of charge. Learn more <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_overdose_prevention/directories.htm">here</a>.</p><h2>16 Cities in New York Ranked From Least to Most Dangerous</h2><p>Here are 16 cities in the state of New York ranked from least to most dangerous bases on its crime index number.</p><h2>7 Orange County Cideries to Visit During New York Cider Week</h2><p>What’s better to drink this season than world-class ciders – especially during New York Cider Week, Oct. 5-13, 2024. Don't worry, these places are available anytime of year, not just Cider Week!</p></div></body>

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NewsBreak

The Startling Reason for Red Boxes on Hudson Valley Rail Trails

I thought I saw a new bird house on a recent walk in the Hudson Valley. I couldn't have been more wrong. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between official government business and a local art project. With little libraries and even hilariously-defaced road signs popping up all across the Hudson Valley, I wasn't surprised when I saw little red boxes on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.