Vending

Missouri county expands free naloxone vending program

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September 2, 2026

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Jackson County Public Health in Missouri has installed its second Bluebox vending machine outside a Synergy One Lending office in the Kansas City suburb of Raytown, providing free, around-the-clock access to naloxone and other health supplies, according to a Kansas City Star report. The machine also offers fentanyl test strips, first aid kits, safe sex supplies, medication lock bags, wound care products, hygiene kits and COVID-19 tests.

Health officials selected Raytown in part because the community includes a ZIP code identified as a hotspot for fatal opioid overdoses. The department's first Bluebox opened in April near its Lee's Summit headquarters and has been used more than 3,000 times. Staff members plan to restock the Raytown machine several times a week, with the health department fully funding the program. The touchscreen machine asks users for their ZIP code but does not collect names or sensitive personal information.

The Raytown location expands access to supplies that Synergy One Lending previously distributed inside its office during business hours. Jackson County Public Health hopes to place additional Bluebox machines in communities including Independence, Grandview, Oak Grove and Grain Valley. Officials also hope the Raytown installation will encourage more businesses to host the machines as the county works to increase access to overdose prevention and other public health resources.