Public health vending machines now available in Portage County

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) - The Portage County Division of Public Health has launched a public health vending machine to provide an easily accessible method for the public to obtain a range of harm-reduction supplies with minimal access requirements.

The Portage County PHVM will offer the following items at no cost: nasal Narcan (Naloxone), fentanyl testing strips, xylazine testing strips, Hope Kits, cable gun locks, tick kits, Deterra medication disposal bags, condom kits, Hepatitis C home test kits, general hygiene kits, feminine hygiene kits, emergency blankets, and resource material packets.

The temperature-regulated PHVM is located outside of the Ruth Gilfry Center entrance at 817 Whiting Ave. in Stevens Point. Community members will utilize only their zip code to dispense products from the machine. Other personal protected information will not be collected.

Portage County Health and Human Services says some of the products will have dispensing limits to ensure everyone has fair access to the products in the machine. The harm reduction efforts are focused on serving the community, including those within their substance use journey while providing further education on resources available. The goal is to place harm reduction resources into the hands of those in need without judgment while creating a healthier and stronger community.

“We want Portage County residents to know that within the opioid epidemic, we are taking actions to provide available resources and education to save lives and reduce the incidence of related communicable diseases,” PCHHS Director Kim Vagueiro said in a statement. “By providing nasal Narcan and drug testing strips for free, we are hoping to empower community members to intervene in emergencies and prevent opioid-related deaths. Having access to free harm-reduction materials is one opportunity towards supporting those whose lives are affected by opioids.”

The PHVM is available 24/7, 365 days a year for anyone in the community who needs any of the harm reduction supplies.