Cook County to Use Vending Machines to Increase Narcan Access
Initiative Aimed at Reducing Opioid-Related Deaths
As opioid deaths remain elevated in the Chicago area, Cook County is announcing a new measure to try to curb overdoses. Cook County Health is installing vending machines to dispense naloxone for free at some county facilities in Chicago and the suburbs. The drug, commonly known as Narcan, is an opioid overdose reversal drug.
Vending Machines Installed in Courthouses and County Jail
The vending machines will be placed in the 10 county courthouses and three entry points at the Cook County Jail. Machines have already been installed at Stroger Hospital, Rothstein CORE Center and Provident Hospital.
Vending Machines Paid for with Federal Funding
The machines are being paid for with money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The initiative aims to increase access to naloxone, a tool that can reverse opioid overdoses, in an effort to reduce opioid-related deaths.
Program Aims to Provide Second Chances
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health, said the program does not condone drug use but gives people second chances. “This initiative is an important pillar in harm reduction strategy,” Hasbrouck said. “It’s about allowing them to live another day, allowing them another day to continue their journey toward recovery.”
Naloxone Kits Already Making a Difference
According to Dr. Thomas Nutter, chief behavioral health officer at Cook County Health, 375 naloxone kits have been distributed in the past month through existing vending machines. That’s impactful, he said, as each kit has two doses, meaning a potential 750 lives saved.
Plan to Expand Vending Machine Locations
Nutter hopes to install more vending machines in the future. “We’re very liberal in trying to get as much Narcan into the world as possible,” he said. “The lower the barrier and the wider the access, the more that we can saturate the community with naloxone, in particular, the communities that have been hardest hit.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is naloxone?
A: Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is an opioid overdose reversal drug.
Q: How is the vending machine program funded?
A: The program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Q: How many naloxone kits have been distributed so far?
A: 375 kits have been distributed in the past month.
Q: Are there plans to expand the vending machine locations?
A: Yes, the goal is to install more vending machines in the future.
Q: Is the program only available to those who work in county facilities?
A: No, the program is available to anyone in need of naloxone.
