Anne Arundel County health officials say the decision to stock vending machines with the overdose reversal drug naloxone has been a “swimming success” for community members, with hundreds of kits distributed since March.
The machines are also stocked with test strips to determine if drugs contain fentanyl or xylazine, commonly known as “tranq dope,” along with masks and COVID-19 test strips.
“The machines are entirely anonymous. It’s great to know that people have access to whatever they need, without any sort of judgment, any sort of criticism,” said Theron Abell, coordinator of the county’s Overdose Response Program.
Abell, who manages naloxone orders and provides naloxone education for people in the county, said he’s noticed residents making full use of the machines.
“I find [that] very refreshing and very comforting to know that people can rely on their communities,” Abell said.
There have been 285 overdoses, including 57 fatal overdoses, in the county this year, according to the health department’s opioid data dashboard.
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As of Wednesday, the county had distributed 1,225 naloxone kits and 1,360 fentanyl test strips, according to a health department official.
The vending machines have also sparked more open conversation and lessened the stigma around harm reduction and drug use, Abell said.
“I know [the machines] are increasing the amount of people who are open to the idea of education. They’re open to the idea of having these conversations, and, ideally, it’d be encouraging for further treatment, like recovery as well. I think they’re a wonderful step forward, and I will always have my faith in this project,” Abell said.
The items in stock at each machine offer a look into what’s going on in the community, Abell said.
“At the moment, for example, our COVID tests have been very popular” amid a recent rise in COVID cases, Abell said.
When the vending machines were made available in March, the county offered the overdose reversal drug at seven locations. In July, the health department unveiled an eighth vending machine, located at the Glen Burnie Health Center.
Vending machines can also be found at the Brooklyn Park library, the Deale library, Eastport Community Center, the Health Services Building in Annapolis, the Jennifer Road Detention Center, the Ordnance Road Correctional Center and the Severn Center.
