ELKO — The tables held flowers, butterfly cutouts, feathers, dreamcatchers and photos of two Elko residents who perished in recent months due to drug overdoses — deaths that could have been prevented if the rescue medication Narcan had been administered quickly enough.Â
Members of the Elko community gather for a dedication ceremony of Narcan distribution boxes on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko in honor of two drug overdose victims.
Two boxes that will provide the life-saving medication Narcan to anyone in need were dedicated on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko in honor of two drug overdose victims.Â
Sharon Bachman of NV Support Solutions, from left, Darcy Patterson and Kathie Carstairs, both of Wake Up Nevada, begin a dedicated on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko in honor of two drug overdose victims.Â
Jennifer Cooper, grandmother to the unborn child of drug overdose victim Shanell Martin, speaks about how Narcan could help save lives.Â
A tabletop memorial honors Shanell Martin and her unborn child with decorations the overdose victim enjoyed, including butterflies, stuffed animals and pink hearts.Â
Sherry Irons, from left, overdose victim Shanell Martin's grandmother; Tanya Harris, her mother; and Stacey Cooper, father of the victim's unborn child, speak at the dedication ceremony of Narcan distribution boxes on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko.
Overdose victim Samuel Johnny's mother Annie, left, speaks at the dedication ceremony of Narcan distribution boxes on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko in honor of her son and Shanell Martin, who both overdosed in 2025.
The tabletop memorial for Samuel Johnny included red heards, feathers, dreamcatchers and other items he enjoyed.Â
Cartons holding boxes of Narcan were on display at a dedication ceremony of distribution boxes for the life-saving medication on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko in honor of two drug overdose victims.
Photos: Narcan distribution box dedication ceremony
A dedication ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, unveiled two newspaper-rack style distribution boxes for the overdose drug Narcan.
Members of the Elko community gather for a dedication ceremony of Narcan distribution boxes on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, outside LifeQuest Elko in honor of two drug overdose victims.
Keith Kohn is editor of the Elko Daily Free Press. Reach him at kkohn@elkodaily.com.
Keith Kohn
Editor
