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Machine dispenses prescription drugs to help opioid addicts in Vancouver

March 5, 2020

A vending machine that dispenses hydromorphone to people with opioid use disorder has been installed on a test basis in Vancouver, Canada, according to a Medscape Medical News report. The goal is to determine if the machine can reduce deaths related to heroin and fentanyl.

The machine dispenses prescription hydromorphone to registered opioid addicts in the downtown east side area of Vancouver. The MySafe machine scans the internal vein pattern in users' palms to verify their identity.

Users can access the machine up to four times per day.

Having a machine dispense the drugs provides users some autonomy, said Dr. Mark Tyndall, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health in Vancouver.