Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments

Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Harm reduction vending machines (HRVMs) provide an easy-to-use way for people who use drugs (PWUD) to access a range of risk reduction supplies and resources. While HRVMs are relatively new in the U.S. and are not widely implemented in harm reduction settings, interest is growing rapidly.

For the harm reduction community, HRVMs are a low-maintenance, inexpensive intervention that health departments and community-based organizations can adopt and implement to support PWUD in the communities they serve.

After this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Discuss key planning and implementation considerations from Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Harm Reduction Vending Machines.
• Describe the strengths and limitations of implementing HRVMs.
• Examine notable strategies to eliminate barriers to accessing HRVMs.

Presenters include:

• Eliana Duncan, MSc, Consultant, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
• Chelsi Cheatom, Program Manager, Trac-B Exchange
• Shane Sullivan, Community Outreach Specialist, HIPS (Honoring Individual Power and Strength)
• Joe Trotter, Harm Reduction Program Coordinator, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Harm Reduction Vending Machines Guide

Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Harm Reduction Vending Machines is an educational brief grounded by real-world experience developed by the National Council with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).