Photo Courtesy of DOHMH
According to the administration, public health vending machines are an innovative, low-barrier strategy to reduce stigma and reach New Yorkers who may not already be connected to harm reduction services.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has unveiled NYC’s first public health vending machine, hosted by Services for the Underserved (S:US), to promote 24/7 access to lifesaving harm reduction supplies conveniently and anonymously to meet a goal outlined in the City’s mental health plan.
According to the administration, public health vending machines are an innovative, low-barrier strategy to reduce stigma and reach New Yorkers who may not already be connected to harm reduction services. Similar machines in the United States, Europe, and Australia have demonstrated success at reducing rates of overdose and infectious disease.
“We are in the midst of an overdose crisis in our city, which is taking a fellow New Yorker from us every three hours and is a major cause of falling life expectancy in NYC,” said City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “But we will continue to fight to keep our neighbors and loved ones alive with care, compassion and action. Public health vending machines are an innovative way to meet people where they are and to put life-saving tools like naloxone in their hands. We’ll leave no stone unturned until we reverse the trends in opioid-related deaths in our city.”
S:US will oversee the vending machine’s operation at 1676 Broadway in Brooklyn, outside of a supportive housing facility run by the organization. The machine will stock a variety of health and wellness supplies, such as naloxone (Narcan®), hygiene kits, and safer sex kits. S:US will restock the machine and include items that meet the needs of the local community alongside harm reduction supplies.
Anyone can use the machine—individuals will simply enter their New York City ZIP code followed by the numerical code listed below the product. Instructions and contact information for support will be posted on the machine in English and Spanish.
Overdose deaths in New York City have reached historically high levels. In 2021, there were 2,668 overdose deaths in NYC, compared with 2,103 in 2020. In 2021, 84 percent of overdose deaths involved an opioid. Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, was involved in 80 percent of all overdose deaths. There were 1,370 confirmed overdose death in the first half of 2022. If current trends continue, 2022 will be the deadliest year on record for overdose.
As part of the Care, Community, Action plan released in March, the city has committed to supporting people at risk of a fatal overdose and a goal of reducing overdose deaths by 15 percent by 2025. Increasing access to free naloxone is part of the City’s plan to reduce overdose deaths, focusing on populations with the highest rates of overdose death and risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose.
Some lawmakers are vehemently opposed to the new approach to the problem and the possible presence of more machines.
“NYC shouldn’t be commodifying addiction and anyone supporting these should be ashamed,” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said. “The money spent on these machines—which are providing free crack pipes by the way—should be spent on rehab services to actually help addicts, instead of fueling their addiction.”
