Taylor County Health Department Launching First Outdoor Harm Reduction Vending Machine

Wednesday, September 18th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Shereen Siewert, Wisconsin Public Radio) The Taylor County Health Department will soon launch its first outdoor harm reduction vending machine, part of a growing effort to combat opioid abuse and deaths by suicide in rural areas where resources for prevention, treatment and recovery can be limited.

According to Shereen Siewert with Wisconsin Public Radio, two vending machines offering free Narcan, fentanyl test strips, gun locks, CPR kits and other lifesaving supplies are already installed at the Taylor County Courthouse and Human Services building and are available during regular business hours.

The new machine will be accessible around the clock, ensuring access to resources without the stigma of entering a public building. Melissa Moore, a public health foundationalist with the Taylor County Health Department, spoke with WPR on “Morning Edition” about the initiative.

She said rural communities are especially vulnerable to opioid abuse and suicide risk. Moore said a recent community health assessment showed a ratio of just one counselor for every 750 people in Taylor County, a statistic she fears will only become more dire in the future.

“When we look at access to things like gun locks or Narcan, these are the things that are keeping people alive in order to get them to that next step, including treatment,” Moore told WPR’s Shereen Siewert.

Critics argue that harm reduction strategies enable unsafe behavior and drug use, but advocates say the tools provide a crucial lifeline for people battling addiction and mental health issues.

“We know that these tools save lives and if we don’t have them, unfortunately we may lose more loved ones to addiction and suicide,” Moore said.

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