LYNN – The Opioid Working Group has installed a Wellness Vending Machine in Lynn, at the corner of Buffum Street and Blake Street, to distribute Narcan, hygiene products and sexual health kits, free of cost for the community.
“We really want to make sure that people have access to products and resources 24 hours a day, no questions asked,” said Candice McClory, Substance Use Coordinator for the City.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Lynn has among the highest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts. Lynn had 77 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022, making it the fifth deadliest in the state.
And, according to Lynn Police Department data, a majority of overdoses occur outside the opening times of organizations and businesses, between 6 and 9 p.m., when access to services is significantly restricted.
Olivia Voznyuk, a Master of Public Health student at Boston University and a City of Lynn Public Health intern, is analyzing the data around the vending machine.
“We will be collecting in-depth data to better understand its usage patterns and community needs,” Voznyuk explained.
Collected data will aid in informing future outreach strategies, inventory decisions and potential locations for expansion, she said.
The initiative for public health vending machines was implemented in Boston in December 2024, a low-cost means for destigmatizing harm reduction and expanding access to resources in the city.
In Lynn, where information and resources are scarce, the initiative aims to minimize the risks of overdose, provide readily available resources, and inform.
“We didn’t want it to be specific to overdose assistance,” McClory said. “We want to make sure that the community is aware of all the resources it has access to. There’s a gap there.”
When she refills the vending machine, passers-by often stop to share their surprise:
“It’s free?!”
“Absolutely.”
The vending machine and the products it dispenses are funded by the Opioid Working Group, after receiving allocations from the opioid abatement funds, derived from government settlements related to the opioid epidemic.
