One Year Later: What’s Been Happening with OPEN’s Naloxone Vending Machines
Exactly one year ago today, on October 11th, 2023, OPEN and Michigan Medicine unveiled the first naloxone vending machine as part of our Naloxone Distribution and Vending Machine program in the Adult Emergency Department waiting room. This program started with the goal of bringing free access to naloxone to as many people across Michigan as possible.
In just one year since the program’s launch, OPEN has fully implemented 4 vending machines and 12 distribution boxes, with 4 more vending machines and 3 more distribution boxes pending implementation. From our 16 fully implemented machines, over 4,130 naloxone kits have been distributed out to community members. We are currently active at 14 different locations across 9 Michigan counties, with 7 more locations waiting for implementation.
“It is so exciting to see how we have grown from one vending machine last October to 16 (and counting!) this year. I’m very proud of our geographic reach for this program, and the collaboration with local community organizations across the state. We’ve helped implement machines in several high impact counties and areas with little to no naloxone access to provide this life saving resource,” said Ellie English, a Clinical Implementation Specialist with OPEN.
Naloxone is a fast-acting medication that rapidly (and temporarily) reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone only works if there are opioids in your body, is not addictive, and cannot get you high. Having access to this medication is important so that community members are able to take action and react quickly when someone is experiencing an opioid overdose.
OPEN’s vending machines and distribution boxes can be found across the state, from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to Muskegon and Gaylord. Providing free access to naloxone is a very important strategy for harm reduction in our community. Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan (an intranasal type of naloxone offered in our vending machines), is safe and very easy to use.
There are still many barriers today that prevent people from gaining access to this life saving medication, such as over-the-counter costs, community awareness, and stigma from other community members, healthcare workers, or even oneself.
“By providing free naloxone and education at these vending machines, we are empowering people who use substances and the broader community to prepare for an overdose emergency and save lives,” added English.
OPEN is excited to see the positive response from our community with this program and are looking forward to growing into more counties to help more Michiganders in need. English added “We are excited to continue partnering with organizations throughout Michigan to implement vending machines and naloxone distribution boxes to provide free naloxone to the community.”
You can learn more about how to bring a naloxone vending machine or distribution box here.