Language: English
National Council for Mental Wellbeing – Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Harm Reduction Vending Machine
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developed this brief to share considerations for health departments implementing harm reduction vending machines.
Readiness Assessment for Harm Reduction Vending Machines: A Decision Making Tool for Organizations and Communities
This is a resource for public health agencies, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups to develop knowledge about readiness for the implementation of a vending machine to distribute harm reduction supplies. Vending machines for this purpose are like snack or drink machines, but are stocked with items such as naloxone, educational materials, safer use supplies, and hygiene kits. Machines can be equipped with sign-in technology that tracks its use by program participants or the public. Agencies considering a harm reduction vending machine program will benefit from reviewing this tool with staff, community stakeholders, partners, and program participants. This tool will help agencies understand where their community sits on the continuum of readiness for vending machine implementation and identify next steps to strengthen their capacity to initiate a harm reduction vending machine program.
Considerations for Naloxone Vending Machines
Before setting up a naloxone vending machines, there are many questions that a program should consider. The content on this webpage is adapted from the webinar “Learn about Naloxone Vending Machines!” with content from Thea Oliphant-Wells of Public Health-Seattle & King County and Joseph Hunter of the North Central Accountable Communities of Health. We received additional input from Paul LaKosky at the Dave Purchase Project in Tacoma.
A scoping review of implementation considerations for harm reduction vending machines
Given the rapidity with which communities are standing up harm reduction vending machines (HRVM), there is a pressing need for a consolidated examination of implementation evidence. This scoping review summarizes existing literature using multiple implementation science frameworks.
HRVM implementation best practices include maximizing accessibility up to 24 h, 7 days a week, offering syringe disposal options, ensuring capability of data collection, and allowing for anonymity of use. Organizations that implement HRVM should establish strong feedback loops between them, their program participants, and the broader community upfront.
Assessing the role of syringe dispensing machines and mobile van outlets in reaching hard-to-reach and high-risk groups of injecting drug users (IDUs): a review
The findings demonstrate that syringe dispensing machines and mobile vans are promising modalities of NSPs, which can make services more accessible to the target group and in particular to the harder-to-reach and higher-risk groups of IDUs. Their anonymous and confidential approaches make services attractive, accessible and acceptable to these groups. These two outlets were found to be complementary to each other and to other modes of syringe access programs. Services through dispensing machines and mobile vans in strategically important sites are crucial elements in continuing efforts in reducing the spread of HIV and other blood borne viruses among IDUs.
HMA podcast – How Is Harm Reduction Redefining Recovery in Modern Treatment Approaches?
Erin Russell, principal at Health Management Associates, discusses the importance emphasizing harm reduction as a compassionate approach to drug policy. She shares her journey from volunteering at a syringe service program to becoming deeply invested in harm reduction, highlighting how these programs offer critical support and connections to treatment and reduce overdose deaths. Erin also explores the impact of drug policy on drug-related harms, advocating for the need to overcome stigmas that impede treatment.
National Harm Reduction Coalition – Harm Reduction Truth
Members of the harm reduction community share what harm reduction means to them at a personal level.
XNational Harm Reduction Coalition – Harm Reduction Truth
SAMHSA – Harm Reduction
SAMHSA defines Harm Reduction as an approach that emphasizes engaging directly with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission; improve the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of those served; and offer low-threshold options for accessing substance use disorder treatment and other health care services. This webinar examines Harm Reduction as a tool for Behavioral Health Professionals.
XSAMHSA – Harm Reduction
