BUCYRUS/GALION (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)— Crawford County Public Health and Avita Health System have joined forces to install harm reduction vending machines at Bucyrus and Galion Hospitals. These machines, located outside the emergency department entrances, offer free, life-saving tools and disease prevention supplies to the community.
The vending machines are stocked with naloxone (Narcan® or Kloxxado®), fentanyl test strips, at-home COVID-19 test kits, and male and female condoms. The machines are accessible 24 hours a day, and the items are free of charge.
Kate Siefert, Health Commissioner at Crawford County Public Health, explained that the vending machines are a means to connect people to harm reduction supplies. She added that similar machines have already shown success in reducing rates of overdose and infectious disease across the nation and in other parts of the world.
The machines were installed on October 17th, and in the first week, they distributed 900 free products to community members. The items included 199 naloxone, 302 fentanyl test strips, 236 male condoms, 67 female condoms, and 96 at-home COVID-19 test kits.
Jerry Morasko, President/CEO of Avita Health System, expressed gratitude for the partnership with the Crawford County Health Department and emphasized the importance of these machines in reducing rates of overdose and the spread of infectious diseases.
Harm reduction vending machines have been used in other countries since 1987, with the first one introduced in Denmark. They were launched in the United States in 2017 and have grown in prevalence as the overdose crisis has worsened over the last several years.
Siefert stressed that while these machines are not a complete solution, they are an important tool in saving lives and addressing the opioid crisis. She emphasized the need for more tools, education, harm-reduction, stigma-reduction, treatment, and outreach.
The machines in Crawford County are funded by the Drug Overdose Prevention Grant and maintained by Project DAWN. Crawford County Public Health stocks the vending machines daily Monday-Friday but cannot guarantee availability of products.