Vending

ECU research uses vending machines to expand Narcan access in rural communities

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September 16, 2026

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East Carolina University researchers are studying how public health vending machines can expand access to Narcan and other health supplies in rural North Carolina. Dr. Lori Ann Eldridge, an assistant professor in ECU's Department of Health Education and Promotion, has helped guide placement and stocking decisions using information gathered through 60 interviews in six counties. The initiative is supported by a $300,000 Health Resources and Services Administration grant, according to an ECU News Services report.

The machines provide the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone at no charge and without requiring users to register. Other available products can include dental kits, condoms, sunscreen, diapers and over-the-counter pain medication, with local health departments determining what to stock based on community needs. Researchers worked with people who have experience with substance use to better understand where machines should be placed and what products would be most useful.

Researchers are also examining how to measure the machines' effectiveness. Because users can obtain Narcan anonymously, researchers generally cannot determine who took it or whether it was ultimately used during an overdose. Instead, the project can track the number of boxes distributed while local partners develop plans to restock and maintain the machines. Eldridge said the broader goal is to reduce stigma, increase awareness of overdose risks and make naloxone readily available when an unintentional overdose occurs.