Forget the Doritos; how about some Narcan? As part of a strategy called harm reduction and aided by $11 million from the national opioid settlement, Milwaukee County has installed 11 vending machines around the county to boost access to supplies like overdose-reversing naloxone, fentanyl test strips, gun locks and medication deactivation pouches and lock bags. The idea is to make these potentially lifesaving products “free and available without stigma,” says Dr. Ben Weston, the county’s chief health policy adviser.
The dispensers were placed this summer in public buildings like health and fire departments as well as agencies that serve vulnerable populations.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Harm reduction vending machine locations in Milwaukee County:
Wisconsin Community Services Inc., 2600 W. North Ave.
Greendale Health Department, 5650 Parking St.
Outreach Community Health Centers, 210 W. Capitol Dr.
Oak Creek Fire Department, 7000 S. 6th St.
Community Advocates, 728 N. James Lovell St.
Diverse & Resilient, 2439 N. Holton St.
Hillview Building, 1615 S. 22nd St.
Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center, 8885 S. 68th St.
First Step, 2835 N. 32nd St.
AMRI Counseling Services, 4001 W. Capitol Dr.
Dr. Martin L. King Community Center, 1531 W. Vliet St.
