Answering Your Questions on IDS Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers

Harm Reduction Vending Machines provide convenient, secure, and 24/7 access to essential supplies for safer drug use, overdose reversal, and infectious disease prevention, such as nasal spray Narcan (naloxone), Fentanyl test strip kits, safer sex kits, and other harm reduction supplies.

As these public health vending machines continue to become more popular, many questions remain surrounding this innovative solution, such as how they work, what can be dispensed, the impacts, and more. In this blog, we answer your frequently asked questions about IDS’ Harm Reduction Dispensers, offering clear, expert insights into this remarkable equipment and technology.

What is a Harm Reduction Dispenser?

A Harm Reduction Dispenser offers convenient, round-the-clock access to harm reduction supplies at public locations of importance. Through this, these public health vending machines make life-saving, harm-reduction, and safer-use supplies more accessible to the general public.

What Items are Typically Dispensed?

IDS’ harm reduction supply dispensers can disp vending machines provide round-the-clock, safe access to supplies for safer drug use, overdose reversal, and infectious disease prevention, such as nasal spray Narcan (naloxone), Fentanyl test strip kits, safer sex kits, and other harm reduction supplies.

How Do They Work?

Public health vending machines are easy to use, and individuals can access supplies from the dispensing machines 24/7 without staff having to be on-site. Many users prefer this contactless dispensing solution due to stigma and privacy concerns.

To access the machine, clients can receive a unique code/PIN or card to enter and dispense the medical supplies they need quickly and efficiently. Users can receive products from the machine once the card is swiped or the unique code/PIN is input. Supplies instructions can be included on product packaging or within the kits. QR codes can also be attached to the machine’s exterior, allowing users easy access to digital instructions.

IDS’ public health vending machines can dispense harm-reduction products of various sizes and packages. Agencies can utilize a single machine to distribute an array of harm reduction resources such as secure injection sets, safer smoking kits, safer sex kits, intramuscular (IM) naloxone, Narcan nasal spray (Naloxone), fentanyl testing strips, sharps disposal units, sterilized needles/syringes, adhesive bandages, pregnancy detectors, and other harm reduction, personal hygiene, and safer use resources.

How Effective Are Harm Reduction Dispensers in Reducing Drug-related Harms?

Having harm reduction supplies readily available can significantly mitigate unforeseen repercussions and, in some instances, even prevent deaths. A study by the National Institute of Health suggests that the machine dispensed 3,360 naloxone doses and 10,155 fentanyl test strips during the very first year of implementation, which highlights its widespread adoption.

Do harm reduction dispensers encourage drug use?

Harm reduction vending machines minimize the potential harm associated with drug use and do not encourage it. The aim is to reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis, prevent overdoses, and ultimately save lives.

What Harm Reduction Solutions are offered by IDS?

IDS provides Harm Reduction and Safe Needle Exchange Dispensers, facilitating the secure storage of supplies and a contactless transaction experience. The machines are designed with a temperature-control option, which includes an automatic heater, to ensure that these essentials are stored at the appropriate temperature and to avoid any condensation or fogging of the glass. The outdoor model features a Weather and Security package that can survive the elements of nature and includes rain guards, sealing for sensitive areas, vandal-resistant panels, and an impact-resistant polycarbonate window cover with a steel frame.

Powered by iQ Technology, IDS’ Harm Reduction and Needle Exchange Dispensers capture real-time data. With a robust, 24/7 reporting capability, organization managers have full control and visibility into managing harm reduction supplies, enabling real-time inventory management, trend prediction, and effective supply distribution. It ensures that the right supplies are available at the right time and place, significantly enhancing the impact of harm reduction efforts.

How Are Communities Involved in the Placement of Dispensers?

Agencies and communities are utilizing IDS’ harm reduction vending machines and technology to distribute harm-reduction supplies, paving the way for a safer and healthier community.

As Rhode Island’s largest AIDS service agency, AIDS Care Ocean State has successfully implemented IDS public health vending machines to dispense and track Narcan and other harm reduction supplies. In one instance, an individual experiencing an overdose obtained Narcan outside of regular hours using a unique code, demonstrating the machine’s life-saving potential. To learn more about the success AIDS Care Ocean Care has found by utilizing IDS’ harm reduction dispenser, check out their full testimonial here. 

Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, H.O.P.E Testing distributes safer sex and harm reduction supplies, HIV self-tests, safe injection kits, Narcan, first aid kits, and pregnancy test kits through IDS’ harm reduction vending machines.

“Our machine has been really popular and took off in a way that we hadn’t even anticipated or hoped for.  In addition, it makes reporting really easy for us…really helpful for us to be able to show the impact and those outcomes very quickly using the backend software.” 

Taryn Norman, Executive Director, H.O.P.E. Testing

Watch the full testimonial here. 

Conclusion

Public health vending machines are providing safe and accessible resources to people in need. Integrating IDS’s iQ Technology into these machines is a transformative innovation in public health. These machines offer an efficient and compassionate solution to those needing help by providing access to life-saving supplies like Narcan. This initiative saves lives and represents a significant step forward in the evolution of harm reduction strategies, aligning with broader public health goals.

Are you looking to bring harm reduction closer to your community? Or do you need a more efficient way to manage your harm reduction inventory and usage, all while providing easy and convenient access to these essential supplies? We would love to discuss how we can help you and your organization securely and conveniently dispensing harm reduction and public health supplies. To learn more, visit our website or give us a call at 1-866-497-2959.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Harm Reduction Dispensing Machines – The IDS Portfolio

Harm Reduction vending machines

In the current healthcare environment, innovation is not just a trendy term but a crucial necessity. This is especially apparent in harm reduction, as traditional approaches frequently prove inadequate. Enter the groundbreaking solution – Harm Reduction Dispensing Machines, a growing initiative proven to save lives. This automated dispensing solution has effectively lessened the risks associated with drug usage. The dispenser can provide a safe and accessible way to provide various items such as medical kits, safe injection kits, harm reduction supplies, first aid kits, and life-saving medications to those in need.

The increasing demand for these life-saving machines highlights their importance in our society, and IDS has been at the forefront of these innovative solutions.Let’s dive deeper and explore IDS’ Harm Reduction and Healthcare Vending Machines and software technology.

What is a Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser? IDS’ Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers is an innovative solution that aims to reduce the risks associated with drug use and provide a critical lifeline for individuals who may have overdosed. These vending machines also play a vital role in promoting safe injection practices, safe smoking, and safe sex within different communities.

With IDS’ harm reduction vending machines, people can access harm reduction supplies and kits 24/7, ensuring safer drug use, overdose reversal, and infectious disease prevention. These healthcare vending machines offer a wide range of products, including Narcan (naloxone) nasal spray, Fentanyl test strip kits, hygiene kits, wound care kits, and much more. They are versatile and can dispense varied shapes, sizes, and packaging products.

Weather & Security Package

These machines are designed with climate control options that ensure product longevity, safety, and freshness while cutting down on annual replacement costs. This feature ensures that any refrigeration supplies are stored at the appropriate temperature. For colder climates, the Harm Reduction and Needle

Exchange Dispenser comes equipped with an automatic heater to maintain the correct temperature in the machine and eliminate condensation and fogging of the glass in high-humidity locations. The outdoor machine models have a rugged design with added weather and security features, making them highly resistant to vandals and the elements.

We talked with several companies, and after reviewing the data from them, we determined that IDS was the way to go, thanks to its history of deploying harm-reduction vending machines. I referred to the machines when I described them as fairly smart machines that can track the temperature so that we know that our supplies are being stored at an appropriate temperature regardless of the temperature outside. So, we like that feature – – Angela Wood, Chief Marketing Officer, Family, and Medical Counseling Service, Inc.

iQ Technology

IDS’ iQ Technology tracks machine usage and makes it easy to control inventory for harm reduction and public health supplies. Providing real-time transaction and inventory reports can give organizations complete control and visibility into managing harm-reduction supplies and helps simplify staff reporting. These reports can help staff with planning, budgeting, and grant applications.

iQ Technology is a timesaver for organizations, as staff can manage inventory on hand anytime and anywhere. Staff no longer have to search for products and their information manually. iQ technology provides a seamless way to learn everything about a product, including when it expires, saving your organization time and money and reducing product waste.

This 24/7 virtual management solution includes a passcode feature. With this feature, staff can give an assigned individual a one-time use code, including an expiration date and specific product access. Clients can then access the supplies they need without staff being on-site. Many clients prefer this contactless dispensing solution due to stigma and privacy concerns. AIDS Care Ocean State, Rhode Island’s largest AIDS service agency, offers a range of programs, including clinical, housing, and prevention support, and is an IDS customer. Check out their Harm Reduction Dispensing success story for more information on the benefits of iQ Technology and harm reduction dispensing machines.

In Conclusion

IDS’s iQ Technology software and harm reduction supply dispensers are helping save lives

across the United States. There is a need for harm-reduction dispensing machines. IDS is dedicated to providing customers with our iQ Technology software and harm-reduction supply dispensers to provide a low barrier and easy access to life-saving medical kits, hygiene kits, safer sex kits, Naloxone, and other harm-reduction supplies and testing 24/7. For further information and testimonials from organizations implementing IDS’ harm reduction solutions and to request a personalized demo visit our website!

The Rise of Harm Reduction Vending Machines: How They Are Changing the Game

Harm Reduction vending machine

The opioid crisis is worsening year after year, resulting in more and more preventable deaths. The DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported 1,779 opioid overdose deaths in the District between January 2017 and May 2022. Factors contributing to this include the overuse of opioid prescriptions, the illegal production and sale of opioids, and the accessibility of potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl – a substance that kills people without their knowledge due to its unseen presence in cocaine and fake pills. These factors have caused an epidemic of overdoses throughout our society, claiming the lives of far too many.

But just as the epidemic grows beyond proportions, necessity has paved the way for another harm reduction method. This article explores the rise of harm reduction machines and how they are proving a game-changer in the fight against drug addiction.

Harm Reduction Machines – A Life-Saving Phenomenon

Harm-reduction vending machines are automated dispensers that provide life-saving harm-reduction supplies to drug users. They are typically located in public areas and have round-the-clock accessibility. The range of harm reduction supplies offered by these machines includes anti-overdose medications such as Narcan, which can bind the opioid receptors in the brain and nullify the effects of opioids, syringes, alcohol swabs, sterile water, and condoms. The availability of Narcan also serves to lessen the stigma associated with addiction, making it a more socially accepted issue.

Governments and organizations recognize the importance of harm reduction strategies in reducing the spread of infectious diseases and overdose deaths. This explains why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the potential of vending machines stocked with nasal sprays that can reverse an overdose.

One Solution, Many Benefits

Harm-reduction vending machines can significantly benefit those who may have overdosed and the community at large. They provide a safe, sterile, and non-judgmental environment for drug users to access harm-reduction supplies. Many machines are equipped with counseling services and referrals to drug treatment programs, laying out a holistic approach to harm reduction.

In contrast to a “Just Say No” approach to illicit drug use based on deterrence and punishment, harm reduction is “really a comprehensive view of accepting people wherever they are on the spectrum of their substance use, and then linking them to the services that they need and educating them on how to protect themselves and their families,” – Angela Wood, Chief Operations Officer at Family and Medical Counseling Service (FMCS)

Thus, harm-reduction machines reduce the burden on public health systems and emergency services. Providing access to harm-reduction supplies minimizes the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to drug-related complications.

Game-changing Potential

Harm-reduction machines are more than emergency jackets that help reverse the drug effects and prevent deaths. It strikingly reduces the stigma associated with drug use by providing a safe and sterile environment for drug users to access supplies and support. This way, these machines challenge the notion that drug use is a punishable criminal activity rather than being treated as a public health issue.

“People who use drugs are often thought of as outside community. Oftentimes, they experience criminalization that doesn’t allow them to feel safe utilizing traditional modalities of care, HIPS hopes the machine helps normalize community members caring for one another, with someone obtaining Narcan from a machine for a neighbor, friend, or family member in need”. – said Andrea Lopez, the Board Vice-Chair of HIPS, a nonprofit that offers harm reduction services and has worked in harm reduction for over 25 years.

Last but not least, harm-reduction machines are providing a cost-effective solution to the opioid epidemic. Harm-reduction machines are saving governments and healthcare systems millions of dollars by reducing the transmission of infectious diseases. The machines also widely reduce the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations related to drug overdoses.

Harm Reduction Machines vs. Traditional Methods

Harm-reduction machines are often compared to traditional harm-reduction methods like needle exchange programs and outreach services. While both approaches aim to reduce the harms of drug use, the delivery differs.

Harm-reduction machines are accessible 24/7, providing drug users with a consistent and reliable source of harm-reduction supplies. In contrast, needle exchange programs and outreach services are often limited by their operating hours and availability. Another advantage of harm reduction machines is that they are more discreet than traditional methods, as it takes away any stigma or fear that drug users may face. Harm reduction machines provide a private and anonymous environment for drug users to access supplies.

These vending machines are also more cost-effective than traditional methods. While needle exchange programs and outreach services require staffing and operating costs, harm reduction machines are self-serve devices that require minimal maintenance.

Final Words

There is a need for harm-reduction dispensing machines. IDS is committed to providing customers with our harm-reduction supply dispensers to make it easier for people to access life-saving medical kits,

hygiene kits, safer sex kits, Naloxone, and other harm-reduction supplies and testing around the clock. Our dispensing machines are adaptable and can dispense harm-reduction products of varying sizes and packaging. Please visit IDS’ website to learn more about harm-reduction dispensing machines and how they can enhance your community.

RX & Illicit Drug Summit – An Overview

IDSvending - RX Summit Blog

Since the start of the opioid epidemic, more than one million people have lost their lives. Across the nation, organizations are utilizing Narcan-stocked vending machines as a preventative solution, as these medications can reverse a drug overdose. IDS has been at the forefront of developing life-saving dispensing solutions and technology. Recently, IDS was a proud Silver Sponsor of the RX & Illicit Drug Summit. This influential event addresses the opioid crisis. From April 1st-4th, IDS and a global community of stakeholders and professionals gathered to share and learn about the latest prevention, treatment, and law enforcement strategies.

IDSvending - RX Summit Event

IDS Joins The Global Community in Strategizing The Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery of Opioid Overdoses

During the RX & Illicit Drug Summit, IDS had the opportunity to showcase our Intelligent Dispensing Solutions Equipment and iQ Technology Software. IDS’s Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser is an innovation designed to minimize drug use-associated health risks and serve as a lifeline for those who may have overdosed. 

Our Harm Reduction Supply Dispensers provide a low barrier and easy access to life-saving medical kits, hygiene kits, safer sex kits, Naloxone, and other harm reduction supplies and testing 24/7. To access the machine, clients can receive a unique code to enter and dispense the medical supplies they need quickly and efficiently. Our iQ Technology and real-time tracking software provide transaction and inventory reports to make your reporting easy and efficient. 

Today, we cater to many customers to fight against the opioid crisis and its consequences. Our sponsorship of this year’s RX and Illicit Drug Summit and our future Bronze Sponsorship of the RX & Illicit Drug Summit in 2024 further indicates our objective.  

IDS Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser 

IDSvending - RX Summit IDS’s Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser is an innovation designed to minimize drug use-associated health risks and serve as a lifeline for those who may have overdosed to dangerous proportions. The machine also helps health officials to promote safe injections, safe smoking, and safe sex in communities. 

“These machines have been really popular and have taken off in a way that we never anticipated or hoped for. We are distributing or dispensing safer sex and harm reduction supplies which include condoms, self-test kits, safe injection kits, Narcan, first aid kits, COVID-19 kits, and pregnancy test kits. The machine helped us to create a low-barrier entry point to our organization. This means users can access what they need without getting in touch with any staff. The backend software made reporting very easy, as we were able to realize the impact and outcome very quickly” – Taryn Norman  – Executive Director, Hope Testing. 

 

The benefits of the device extend beyond this, and here’s a preview.

A Few Highlights From The RX & Illicit Drug Summit

The event hosted numerous speakers and exciting exhibitions showcasing how technology can control the drug epidemic. We noted an increased number of vending machine enthusiasts, who had purchased our machines, and those looking to secure funding. The life-saving capability of these machines, coupled with their ability to gather data, created a buzz that emphasizes how these harm-reduction vending machines can save lives. For more information on IDS’s harm reduction dispensing solutions and iQ technology, visit here!

Harm Reduction The Life-saving Role Played by Outdoor Machines

Harm Reduction: The Life-saving Role of Outdoor Vending Machines

The United States faces a challenging situation due to the opioid epidemic. Statistics suggest that close to 108,000 people succumbed to this epidemic last year alone. To counter the destructive effects of these drugs and avoid further loss of lives, cities and aid organizations have proposed an innovative harm reduction solution – utilizing vending machines to dispense Narcan, the leading opioid reversal medication. This article contains an in-depth analysis of these vending machines and their ability to save lives.

Harm Reduction Programs & Vending Machines – An Overview 

Harm reduction programs are created to reduce deaths related to addictions, overdoses, and other medical complications. One way to achieve this is a Harm Reduction Supply Dispenser, an initiative gaining popularity across the United States and Canada for its life-saving capabilities. This automated dispensing solution has proven effective in reducing the risks associated with overt drug usage. Medical kits, safe injection kits, harm reduction supplies, first aid kits, and life-saving medications are just a few examples of the many items that can be dispensed. 

There is a Need 

The opioid crisis progressively worsens every year. Factors contributing to this include the overuse of opioid prescriptions, the illegal production and sale of opioids, and the accessibility of potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The presence of fentanyl in cocaine and fake pills is responsible for the deaths of those unaware of its existence or potency. This has caused an epidemic of overdoses throughout our society, claiming the lives of far too many.

Fulfilling That Need 

An approach by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to supply vending machines with nasal sprays that can reverse an overdose. Narcan, an opioid antagonist, is a medication that can bind the opioid receptors in the brain and nullify the effects of opioids. This medication comes as a nasal spray and is simple to administer. These vending machines, found in public places, can save lives. The availability of Narcan also serves to lessen the stigma associated with addiction, making it a more socially accepted issue.

AIDS Care Ocean State is a service agency in Rhode Island that has found success with our harm reduction vending machines. “If people don’t want to come into the office or don’t feel like traveling 20-30 minutes to come to us, they are able to go the vending machines to get the things they need and not have that face-to-face contact,” said Ray Joseph, ACOS Prevention Supervisor. Harm reduction vending machines make distributing these life-saving medications to clients easier and more accessible. Click here to view the AIDS Care Ocean State customer spotlight.

These organizations, they may be closed at five but with a machine that could be outdoors or placed in a variety of places,” “Now the end users can access the machine regardless if it’s four o’clock during business hours or two o’clock in the morning [to] access the supplies when they need them.” – Ashley Hubler, Chief Marketing Officer of the Wittern Group

Benefits of iQ Technology

USI’s harm reduction supply dispensers are powered by our advanced iQ technology, providing an easy, 24/7 supply management solution.  Control and manage harm reduction inventory supplies virtually. With the passcodes feature, you can give a one-time use code to an assigned individual and include an expiration date and specific product access. It provides real-time accessible product usage data and makes pulling reports easy. 

One of our valued customers, H.O.P.E Testing, has found iQ technology beneficial. “It’s been really easy for us due to the back end software to track the number of clients who are enrolled and the number of supplies. So it makes reporting really easy for us, really helpful to be able to show that impact and those outcomes very quickly”. -Taryn Norman, Executive Director at H.O.P.E Testing 

You can watch H.O.P.E Testing’s full customer spotlight here

IDS – A Proud Silver Sponsor

At IDS, we are at the forefront and a pioneer in facilitating the accessibility and availability of harm reduction and health supplies for users 24/7. We are honored to be a silver sponsor for the 2023 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, held April 10th through the 13th in Atlanta, GA. It is an opportunity for a global community to share innovations, strategies, and technologies to help manage, treat, and prevent opioid overdoses. Visit IDS at booth #300 to check out our innovative harm reduction supply dispensing systems and technology.

How Harm Reduction Vending Machines Are Savings Lives

 

Harm reduction vending machines

 

A Harm reduction vending Machine Closer Look

In recent years, there has been a shift in the way addiction is viewed and treated. Instead of relying solely on abstinence-based models, many organizations are developing harm-reduction strategies to help those struggling with addiction and other health-related issues. Among the most promising public health technologies gaining traction is the use of harm-reduction vending machines, which aim to provide access to life-saving resources to those in need. In this article, we will take a closer look at how these innovative machines are changing the lives of countless individuals worldwide and how they can help create a healthier, safer environment for all.

Overview Of The Harm Reduction Model

The harm reduction model is an approach to health and social issues that seeks to reduce the negative consequences of certain behaviors. Primarily used with drug use and other areas of health, such as the spread of infectious diseases, and in situations where individuals are unable, unwilling, or unlikely to stop or reduce their harmful behavior without assistance. It seeks to reduce the harm these behaviors may cause to the individual, others, and the community through various preventative, supportive, and other interventionist strategies. 

These strategies may include introducing safer alternatives or reducing the behavior’s negative consequences. Harm reduction models can be used for anything from providing clean needles for individuals who are intravenous drug users to providing education on preventing the spread of infectious diseases to reversing the deadly effects that drug consumption could induce.

What Are Harm Reduction Vending Machines?

Harm reduction vending machines are a relatively new yet effective public health technology to provide access to life-saving resources, like overdose response kits and naloxone, to those who need it most. These machines dispense medication like naloxone and other essentials that may help reduce the risk of injury or infection. Unlike other vending machines that offer goods and services for a cost, these vending machines are free, intending to reach the most vulnerable populations that may not be able to access these resources otherwise.

These machines are usually placed in high-risk areas like homeless shelters, drug use/shooting sites, and other locations where individuals are most likely to consume drugs or be at risk of contracting an infectious disease. They are also placed in areas where individuals fear accessing government or community-based support due to stigma.

“There’s times that these users — there may be, like, a stigma associated with getting these types of supplies, so they don’t want to interact with someone face to face. And so that’s another way that our machines kind of alleviate that concern or that hesitancy,” – Ashley Hubler, chief marketing officer for the Wittern Group

These machines are getting increasingly popular in America. The story behind it is quite comprehensive, but it generally allows anyone to access these resources, regardless of whether they have a prescription, health insurance, or any other requirement. It is an anywhere, anytime facility that can be accessed whenever needed. Since they are on wheels, they can be moved, dropped off, and set up in different locations, allowing them to serve a larger population. 

The Impact Of These Machines On Communities

Their overall impact can take time to measure. While it’s challenging to collect data on the effects of harm-reductionvending machines, there is one area we can look at to get a sense of their impact: overdoses.

Data from Vancouver and surrounding areas show that Naloxone dispensed by vending machines and given out by emergency responders and health care providers saves lives. In Vancouver alone, emergency responders have administered Naloxone over 5,000 times since the beginning of 2016.

“They’re putting them in fire stations, jails, churches, places that are public,” said Julie Burgess, head of a division Wittern created to handle higher demand from groups distributing Narcan.

The Potential

Harm reduction vending machines testify to the role vending machines can play in expanding access to critical health resources and information. In time, we will likely see even more vending machines popping up across the globe, dispensing a range of essential resources to those who need them. This will even include medications like insulin for those with diabetes or other life-saving resources like water in areas where clean water is scarce. To learn more about harm reduction vending machines, click here.

Customer Spotlight – AIDS Care Ocean State Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Customer Spotlight – AIDS Care Ocean State Harm Reduction Vending Machines

When we think of vending machines, we tend to think of candy bars, soda, and chips. But in Rhode Island, through the AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) Prevention Center, vending machines dispense harm reduction supplies. These supplies help reverse overdoses and reduce the spread of diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV. Through these machines, people can access free naloxone (Narcan®), rapid tests for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), sterile syringes, fentanyl test strips, hygiene, and wound care kits 24/7.

Harm Reduction Vending Machines

ACOS’s harm reduction vending machines provide easy accessibility for people who want to avoid direct contact with healthcare personnel and maintain anonymity when getting access to the medication. These factors explain the need for harm reduction vending machines, and the need is more than ever before. 

Listen to ACOS’s interview with Rhode Island’s Department of Health on the Public Health Out Loud podcast here

Caracole, an AIDS/HIV service organization, has installed a ‘harm reduction vending machine’ outside their headquarters that offers free fentanyl test strips, Narcan – a drug reversing overdoses, and safe use supplies. The vending machine’s phone number also connects to Caracole’s harm reduction service coordinators.  

Over 107,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2021, highlighting the necessity of evidence-based interventions. The University of Cincinnati undertook new research in partnership with Caracole, which showed a self-service vending machine for harm reduction supplies such as Naloxone helped prevent overdoses and contributed to the reduction of Hamilton County’s overdose deaths in 2021. Furthermore, research by Daniel Arendt, Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati was released in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association on November 11, 2021. 

Harm Reduction Strategy  

According to Arendt, harm reduction theorizes with drug and addiction education that assumes people are always seen consuming drugs. However, harm reduction does not enable or support drug use. Instead, it aims to meet people empathetically during their drug use habit and helps empower them to take action and minimize the dangers linked to its use. 

Arendt explained that harm reduction includes distributing naloxone and other supplies such as fentanyl test strips, bandages, tourniquets, and sterile syringes. “You would never tell someone who has wildly uncontrolled diabetes to get their blood sugar in check before we will help them or give them insulin.” 

He then went on to say, “So it is critical to recognize that substance use is not a moral failing, and it’s not this thing that should be stigmatized. Instead, we can acknowledge that drug use is becoming increasingly risky, and we can use that recognition to help spur the development of new, innovative methods of providing people with the care, services, and support that they need, no strings attached.”  

An Effective Approach  

Arendt was introduced to Suzanne Bachmeyer and her colleagues at a meeting regarding the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition. Suzanne Bachmeyer is the director of prevention at Caracole, an HIV/AIDS service organization located in Cincinnati. At the meeting, Arendt reflects on how he and Bachmeyer immediately began discussing the implementation of a harm reduction supply vending machine. During their discussion Bachmeyer said, “A cornerstone of harm reduction is to help people who use drugs stay as healthy as possible.” She also said, “Vending machines provide 24/7 ready access to lifesaving and disease prevention supplies, so people feel empowered to take control of their health. People can’t get healthy or seek treatment if they aren’t alive.”  

For decades, self-service syringe vending machines have been utilized in other parts of the world resulting in a positive impact. However, Arendt said that harm reduction vending machines in the United States were only located in Puerto Rico and Las Vegas prior to their initiative. Arendt also stated, “So our thought process was why not here, why not us, why not Cincinnati. Just because this hasn’t been done in the U.S. doesn’t mean it can’t be done in the U.S., so let’s bring it here and show that this is not just something that works in Europe, but this is something that works here.” 

How Harm Reduction Vending Machines Work

Harm reduction vending machines work this way: The program participants call Caracole, enroll, and then complete an anonymous survey. Next, they receive an access code that is valid for 90 days. To continue using the machine, re-enrolling can take place every 90 days after first joining the program.

During the enrollment process, harm reduction counselors offer more information on topics including Hepatitis C and HIV testing and prevention, counseling, local housing programs, prenatal care, and substance use disorder medical treatment.

Each person with the access code can dispense two nasal spray naloxone doses, two doses of naloxone injections, a safer smoking kit, a safer injection kit, a container to dispose of sharp objects such as needles, a safer sex kit, a PPE (personal protective equipment) kit, a bandage box, and a pregnancy test from the vending machine every seven days.

Final Thoughts – The Need for Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Based on a study, harm reduction vending machines increase access to harm reduction products and services. The research on harm reduction vending machines in Hamilton County, found that since installation, 637 people registered for the program. Out of the 637 registered people, 12% of them had not used harm reduction services before.

In the first year of installation, the vending machine dispensed 10,155 fentanyl test strips and 3,360 naloxone doses, which is more than other syringe service programs in the county. In addition, the installation of the machine was associated with a lower amount of HIV incidences and unintentional overdose deaths all over the county. 

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions (IDS) is a leading manufacturer of smart integrated vending machines and supply lockers. Our harm reduction vending machines can be used to deliver clean syringes, clean needles, and needle disposal containers for used needles. To know more about our products and how they would suit your requirements, click here.