NYC Vending Machines Now Offer Narcan, Crack Pipes, Syringes

New York City has unveiled its first public health vending machine, offering free health and wellness supplies in an effort to reduce stigma and barriers related to public health and prevent drug overdoses. The vending machine, located outside a supportive housing facility in Brooklyn, is available 24/7. It is stocked with various items such as naloxone kits to prevent opioid overdoses, smoker’s quitting kits, safer drug use kits, hygiene kits, menstrual kits, first aid kits, COVID-19 test kits, and more.

To access the vending machine, New York City residents need to enter their zip code and the corresponding product code listed below the desired item. The vending machine is operated by Services for the UnderServed, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals facing homelessness, poverty, and disabilities. The organization also oversees the facility where the vending machine is placed.

According to Rebecca Linn-Walton, Chief Strategy Officer at Services for the UnderServed, the vending machine aims to address the existing drug crisis and provide a safe means of using substances until individuals can access appropriate services. The initiative aligns with the city’s mental health plan, which seeks to reduce overdose deaths by 15% by 2025 and improve access to free naloxone, focusing on populations with high rates of overdose and vulnerability.

The New York City Health Department plans to install additional public health vending machines in high-need neighborhoods next year, run by different agencies. The initiative is part of the city’s commitment to combating the overdose crisis, which has contributed to declining life expectancy in the region. In 2021, there were 2,668 overdose deaths in New York City, primarily involving opioids like fentanyl.

While harm reduction experts and advocates acknowledge the positive impact of the vending machines, they emphasize the need for more overdose prevention centers and additional vending machines across the city to better support the entire community. Nevertheless, the introduction of the public health vending machine is seen as a significant step toward increasing access to life-saving tools and promoting wellness in underserved communities.