The goal of this narrative review is to describe recent global innovations in overdose detection technologies (ODT) enabling rapid responses to overdose events, especially for people who use drugs alone. We found that only a small number of technologies designed to assist in overdose detection and response are currently commercially available, though several are in the early stages of development. Research, development, and scale-up of practical, cost-effective ODTs remains a public health imperative.
Population: General Audiences
Overdose Detection Technologies to Reduce Solitary Overdose Deaths: A Literature Review
NPR All Things Considered – Harm reduction vending machines make Narcan and fentanyl tests easy to access
This 3-minute audio segment profiles a harm reduction vending machine in North Adams, Massachusetts.
Amera podcast series – Harm Reduction: Compassionate Care for People who use Drugs
Episode 4 – Leveraging technology: Expanding Veteran access to harm reduction resources through vending machines
Naloxone vending machines in county jail
In this paper we describe efforts funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant to design and implement naloxone vending machines that provide free naloxone within 6 county jails in Michigan to returning citizens and those visiting county jail facilities.
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) – Vending Machines—A Surprising New Use for an Old Device
A general overview with links to additional information about harm reduction vending machines and funding opportunities
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.
