A new Naloxone vending machine, now accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can be found inside the Jackson Police Department lobby. Shown with the machine, from the left are Harm Reduction Public Health Consultant Brittany Burns, Jackson County Health Commissioner Kevin Aston, Harm Reduction Public Health Consultant Emily Eichhorn, Jackson County PORT Coordinator Mandi Davis, Harm Reduction Public Health Consultant Steven Dunn, and Harm Reduction Public Health Consultant Liz Klic. (Photo Courtesy of the Jackson County PORT)
In a proactive effort to address the ongoing opioid epidemic and save lives, the Jackson Police Department (JPD) and the Jackson County Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) have unveiled a new Naloxone vending machine, now accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This initiative, made possible through the Ohio Department of Health, aims to provide immediate access to Naloxone (also known as Narcan), a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
The vending machine, strategically located at the JPD, is stocked with 150 boxes of Naloxone, ensuring a steady supply for individuals in need. The machine is designed to be user-friendly and discreet, allowing anyone to obtain naloxone without the need for identification or prior registration.
“First and foremost, Narcan is a lifesaving medication,” stated Jackson Police Chief Brett Hinsch. “Every officer at JPD has administered it and used it to save lives.”
Hinsch said, “It is a necessary first-aid kit addition to not only officers at JPD but also anyone that may come in contact with an overdosing person, and in today’s world, that could be anyone.”
The installation of this Naloxone vending machine aligns with the state’s broader efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. According to the Ohio Department of Health, the state has increased the distribution of Naloxone by 42-43 percent between 2022 and 2023, amounting to nearly 300,000 kits distributed statewide. This surge in distribution has been instrumental in reversing thousands of overdose incidents across Ohio.
“With the Jackson County Health Department moving from the downtown area, we felt it was a good time to act by making this medication’s accessibility continue to those that used to obtain it from the Health Department and are limited in their ability to get to the Health Department’s new location,” said Hinsch. “If you have a family member, or friend, who may be at risk of overdose, we offer education on the use of Narcan and hope to help reduce some of the myths and negative stigmas associated with it.”
Hinsch added, “Access to Narcan, to me, is similar to having a fire extinguisher or an AED machine available for its intended emergency. You hope to never have to use it, but if you do need it, it needs to be accessible. Our officers are always at risk of unintended exposure to opioids that could seriously hurt them. It is a blessing to have this medication available for their safety; to take a kit home, should the unintended effects of accidental contact affect the officers or even worse, one of their family members.”
The Jackson Police Department, along with the Post Overdose Response Team, encourages residents to familiarize themselves with the location and operation of the vending machine. In the event of an overdose, individuals are urged to administer Narcan promptly and seek immediate medical attention by calling 9-1-1.
For more information about the Naloxone vending machine or to learn how to use Naloxone, contact Jackson County PORT Coordinator Mandi Davis at 740-418-6907, or at [email protected].
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