Vending

Maryland health department installs free harm reduction vending machines

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May 29, 2024

The Health Department in Somerset County, Maryland, has installed two harm reduction vending machines in the county. The machines are stocked with Narcan, condoms, toiletry bags and fentanyl test strips, according to a WMDT 47 report.

William Johnson, a peer specialist for the Wellness and Recovery Center, told the news outlet that the service can help community members having a crisis on the weekend or when other support services may be closed.

"Think about it, you know, where are they going to go? If they can't go to family members, they can go to this machine… They might get into a situation where they need Narcan or if they live close by they could run over here and get it, you know because it's free," Johnson told the news outlet.

The machine is handicap accessible and includes Spanish translations for the instructions and the products. The Somerset County Health Department also told the news outlet that the vending machines are completely free and users can remain anonymous.