Naloxone Vending Machines set to open in Pierce County
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — The Tacoma Needle Exchange is setting up three Naloxone vending machines in Pierce County.
Each vending machine will contain boxes of Naloxone nasal spray, free of cost, that anyone can take. The purpose of the spray is to treat anyone that is experiencing an opioid overdose.
“It will allow the person to continue breathing until rescue services arrive," said Paul LaKosky, executive director of Tacoma Needle Exchange, the organization behind the effort. "It doesn’t flush the opioid from the body. It’s very important you stay with the person while you call 911.”
Cole Schrim, who is a licensed mental health counselor in Tacoma, is on board with the idea. She feels more resources will help solve drug addiction.
Others who are learning about it feel this is another way to help their community.
The vending machines are expected to be fully up and running and ready for the public by next week. The locations will be The Recovery Café in Orting, The Moore Library in South Tacoma, and the First United Methodist Church in downtown Tacoma.
The machines will also have a QR code that takes people directly to training on how to use the medication to help someone experiencing an opioid overdose.
According to the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, there have been nearly four times as many FYL-related deaths in 2021 as in 2019, and when you compare the first half of 2021 to 2022, FYL-related deaths increased by more than 80%.
Source: KOMO News