Naloxone vending machines make an appearance in Wichita and Hutchinson

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The first two installations of naloxone vending machines in Kansas happened Thursday in Wichita and Hutchinson. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.

Two more machines, one in Johnson County and one in Pittsburg, will be installed by a partnership between The Douglas County Citizen’s Committee on Alcoholism (DCCCA) and Healthy Blue.

DCCCA is an organization that provides substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

Healthy Blue is a collaboration of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and Anthem Partnership Holding Company.

The vending machine in Hutchinson is at Crossover Recovery Center – 400 W 2nd Ave. The Wichita vending machine is located at Second Chance/Big Fish Bail Bonds – 705 N. Broadway.

Lavonta Williams is a current member of Safe Streets Wichita, a nonprofit volunteer organization that focuses on harm prevention and reduction in the community. She is also a former Wichita city council member and part of a national opioid task force. She was at the ribbon-cutting for the Wichita machine and says this is something the city has deliberated for years.

“This is special because we are moving forward proactively as opposed to waiting to react,” said Williams. “If we can save one life, this was done for a purpose,” said Williams.

She hopes to see more machines across Wichita to make it more accessible for anyone who needs a kit.

Chrissy Mayer, the Chief Community Based Services Officer at DCCA in Wichita also attended the Wichita ribbon cutting and was excited to see community involvement around the machines.

“Naloxone vending machines are really critical,” Mayer said. “They increase access for everyone in the community. DCCA operates a statewide naloxone distribution program, but it requires recipients to have a home address to actually receive a kit, which she says can become a barrier for many people.”

Mayer says the machines are simple to use. Those wishing to receive a kit just select the product on the screen, enter a zip code and hit confirm.

The machines each hold 192 kits and are climate-controlled and Wi-Fi enabled so s know when to refill them.

“It’s a huge win for the city of Wichita for sure,” Mayer said. “There are lots of overdoses that happen in the city of Wichita, so this is really critical for saving lives in the city.”

Nathan Prothro, a resident of Hutchinson, says naloxone saved his life a couple of years ago when he overdosed.

“This means a lot, to have this in the community now,” said Prothro.

About 50 community attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Hutchinson.

Bryan Baier, plant president from Healthy Blue Kansas cut the ribbon to unveil the machine in Hutchinson.

“Kansas is in the middle of a public health epidemic,” said Baier. “We lose over 1 person a day to opioid overdose so having naloxone readily available can save lives.”

Baier says Reno County has one of the highest numbers of opioid overdoses in Kansas.

“Having free access to this really is part of the pillar to overcoming the problem,” Baier said. “If there’s a stigma to asking for naloxone, this gives you the ability to get the naloxone in a kit so that you’re able to use it and save lives from an accidental overdose.”

Healthy Blue is funding the resupply of the machines. DCCA is state-funded to provide supplies for those in recovery but has run out of funding in the past to meet patients’ needs.

Seth Dewey is a cofounder of Kansas Recovery Network and works at the Reno County Health Department.

Dewey says naloxone was used on him in 2001 and he found his path to recovery in 2017. He says recovery does not happen overnight and it takes a community of .

“Recovery is not linear,” Dewey said. “It doesn’t look one way.”

Dewey encourages everyone in the community to know their resources and educate themselves when it comes to addiction and recovery. He says providing the community with 24/7 access to naloxone is a proven overdose prevention strategy.

Naloxone vending machines are just one option. Those looking for naloxone can get the product mailed to their house from DCCA, receive it from Safe Streets in Wichita, or visit the Kansas Recovery Network in Reno County.

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