Wellsville –Each year, more than 112,000 Americans die from overdose. A University of Kentucky College of Social Work surveyed 2,072 adults, in which almost half stated they knew someone who died of an overdose. Each one of these deaths leaves behind, families, friends, and other people to grieve and make sense of the loss. In Allegany County there is another resource to help lower deaths from overdose. A new vending machine in front of Jones Memorial Hospital, 191 North Main Street offers naloxone better known as Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine test strips for free to community members. Last year, Partners for Prevention in Allegany County (PPAC) Coalition Coordinator Jon Chaffee attended a meeting in Chautauqua County, when he found out that three vending machines had been placed around Jamestown by the Medication for Addiction Treatment & Electronic Referrals (MATTERS) organization. MATTERS was actively looking for more locations in western New York. Mr. Chaffee and ACASA’s Director of Prevention Kim Strauser started the process of finding a partner that would house the vending machine. The most logical location in Allegany County was Jones Memorial Hospital as they are already a Take It to the Box location and community members think of a hospital as a place to get help. Conversations took place between JMH leaders and ACASA in the months that followed that led to a partnership to place the vending machine in front of JMH by the Emergency Room parking lot making it visible and easily accessible to community members. Dr. Julie Williams, Emergency Department physician at Jones Memorial stated, “People across our nation, daily see the effects of drug addiction and opioid overdose leading to tragic loss in their communities.  By providing drug testing supplies and naloxone, our community can try to help prevent opioid overdose and death, giving individuals more time to seek treatment.”

“This vending machine is easy to use and a great resource for those in our community who have been impacted by an opioid use disorder,” states ACASA’s Executive Director Chad Sebastian.  “It can help save lives!” The directions on how to use the vending machine can be found below.  

Community education about the machine will be ongoing by sharing flyers and social media posts with coalition partners to reach the most people. Information will also be shared at community events throughout the year. “This machine gives our community access to life saving materials, and with that, it gives us all a second chance,” states ACASA’s Certified Peer Recovery Advocate Cassi Stives. “With this machine we are openly standing beside each other in this struggle and stating, today might not be ok but together someday just might be.”

For more information on the vending machine visit https://ppaccentral.org/vendingmachine/ . Community members who are looking for help with substance use and treatment options can contact ACASA’s Outpatient Clinic at 585-593-6738. Community members can also follow PPAC on Facebook, Instagram, and X as ppaccentral to get more information on community resources, events, and activities.

Earlier this month a similar vending machine was made available at Addison Fire Department, 1 Tuscarora Street. To find vending machines in other parts of western New York visit https://mattersnetwork.org/supplies/#vendingmachines .