Staten Island is set to introduce its first free public health vending machines, which will offer essential supplies to the community. During the November full-board meeting of Community Board 1, Vanessa Mical, the harm reduction and community engagement coordinator for the Tackling Youth Substance Abuse coalition, presented details about the initiative. The program, which aims to provide vital health resources, was initially announced in the summer but lacked specifics on locations. One machine will be located in St. George, while discussions continue for a second site.
“Our project is akin to vending machines that dispense snacks and drinks, but instead of requiring money, we will provide public health supplies,” Mical explained. The vending machines will dispense harm reduction items, including the overdose-reversing agent Narcan, as well as fentanyl and xylozine test strips. Mical highlighted the positive trend in Staten Island’s overdose statistics, citing recent data from the NYC Health Department that reported a significant 49% decline in fatal overdoses within the borough.
Location and Available Supplies
The St. George vending machine will be situated in the back lot behind the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness at 444 St. Mark’s Place, accessible from Montgomery Avenue. This initiative marks a significant expansion of harm reduction strategies in Staten Island, complementing similar machines already available in Queens and Brooklyn. These machines will ensure that essential supplies are available to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition to harm reduction supplies, the vending machines will also provide safer sex supplies and personal hygiene kits. The project is funded through a grant from the opioid settlement fund, underscoring the commitment to addressing health issues associated with substance use in the community.
Mical emphasized the ongoing efforts to reduce overdose rates and improve public health. “There has been really good news about overdoses on Staten Island. We want to keep working on that and bringing those numbers down,” she stated. The introduction of these vending machines represents a proactive step towards enhancing access to health resources for those in need, fostering a safer and healthier environment for all residents.
