New York City officials introduced a street vending machine on Monday that aims to assist drug addicts by offering items such as crack pipes, lip balm, and Narcan.
These vending machines, placed in some of the city’s most drug-ridden neighborhoods, provide drug-related supplies instead of conventional snacks like candy bars and potato chips. At a news conference held near the first vending machine, Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Ashwin Vasan stated that 2022 is projected to be the worst year ever for overdoses, with a New Yorker succumbing to drugs every three hours.
Vasan underscored the challenge posed by the increasing prevalence of fentanyl and the emergence of other dangerous substances in the city’s drug supply. He specifically mentioned Xylazine, a veterinary medication also known as the “zombie drug,” which can cause severe health issues and a catatonic state in users.
These devices offer overdose-reversing medication like Naloxone (commonly known as Narcan), drug test strips to identify fentanyl, and “Safer Smoking” kits that include a durable stem pipe, mouthpiece, and lip balm for smoking crack and crystal meth. Other items available include “Safer Sniffing” kits, as well as unrelated products like condoms, tampons, nicotine gum, and first-aid kits.
All the items are provided free of charge, and individuals can access them by entering their zip code.
While the initial system does not include syringes, Vasan suggested that future models might incorporate them. The vending machines, costing $11,000 each, will be strategically placed in areas heavily impacted by drug overdoses.
Vasan emphasized that the vending machines are not a perfect solution, but “it’s an important tool that says to New Yorkers, ‘Hey, we are going to bring the tools that saves lives to you.’ ”
While the anti-drug vending machines are a new addition to New York City, similar initiatives have been implemented in other cities worldwide, including Australia, Denmark, Philadelphia, and Nevada.
