JOHNSON, Vt. (WCAX) – Along a busy Route 15 in Lamoille County, you’ll see Vermont’s only Narcan vending machine.
A freshly stocked vending machine filled with 2-pack boxes of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, known as Narcan, which is free to the public.
Case manager at the Johnson Health Center Crystal Bolio says having free access to Narcan is key in rural areas of the state. Bolio also says she is seeing the growing impact of the opioid crisis.
It’s scary, what you are seeing in your face in Burlington is coming very quickly to our rural areas, and unless we get supports in place for these folks, we are going to be up against a really big fight,” said Bolio.
Since the ribbon cutting in August, there have been over 300 boxes of Narcan taken. Most of it has been recent as use has doubled over the last month.
“That person just gained access to a life-saving device that potentially saved a life when that would not have been an option just a few months ago,” said Bolio.
With stronger drugs on the streets, more doses of Narcan are needed to save lives.
The health center adds that Narcan is not the cure the the crisis, but keeps people alive in hopes they will get the resources and support to get into recovery.
“They may not choose recovery when they wake up, but they are waking up,” said Bolio.
The state says these vending machines are vital in rural communities and is looking to add more statewide.
“Vending machines allow for that opportunity to still have access in a non-stigmatizing way,” said Vermont Injury Prevention Manager Stephanie Busch.
That is something the Johnson Health Center agrees with.
“If we had a Narcan vending machine in every rural community, so folks had that access, we could potentially get ahead of the overdose numbers we are seeing and wipe it out,” said Bolio.
In 2022, the state broke a grim record for overdose deaths with 244. The final data for 2023 isn’t available yet, but officials believe we will not surpass that number.