Monmouth County’s first harm reduction vending machine has been set up in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The Prevention Resource Network’s harm reduction vending machine — located at 816 Sunset Avenue in Asbury Park — provides free supplies like Narcan and syringes for people with substance addictions. The goal is to provide a safe, easy, and confidential method of distributing items that can prevent overdoses and reduce the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. Harm reduction vending machines are set up similar to beverage or snack vending machines, but instead being stocked with sodas and candy, they are stocked with supplies such as naloxone, sterile injection equipment, safer use kits, wound care supplies, sharps containers, and first aid kits, at no cost. The 24/7 vending machine, which has been set up to be used discreetly and anonymously, is a step forward in expanding easy access to life-saving resources. Read on to learn more about the Prevention Resource Network’s Harm Reduction Vending Machine in Asbury Park.

The Prevention Resource Network in Asbury Park

The Prevention Resource Network in Asbury Park is a program of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Central Jersey and is funded by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services. The PRN provides culturally-competent, destigmatized support for people who use substances, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the LGBTQ+ community. The Harm Reduction Center operates as a judgment-free, trauma-informed space for individuals not ready or willing to enter formal substance use treatment.

The PRN provides services such as community trainings and education, Fentanyl test strips, Hepatitis C testing, HIV testing/Education, MAT/Suboxone Treatment, Naloxone distribution, overdose education, PEP, Plan B, pregnancy tests, PrEP, safe sex items, safer smoking supplies, STI testing + treatment, syringe services, wound care services, and Xylazine test strips.

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“Harm reduction is healthcare. It’s about respecting the dignity of every person and making sure they have the tools they need to stay alive and well, without shame,” said Shannon Preston, MSW, LSW, Director of HIV Community Services at Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, on a Facebook post.

Harm Reduction Vending Machine

The Prevention Resource Network’s harm reduction vending machine is the first to be implemented in Monmouth County. It stands discreetly behind the PRN office on Sunset Avenue, facing the NJ Transit train tracks. The vending machine gives the nonprofit group another outlet to dispense critical supplies even during its off-hours.

 

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From afar, the vending machine looks like one that would have candy and chips inside, except it is stocked with Narcan (a drug that reverses opioid overdoses), wound care kits, and fentanyl test strips. There are no restrictions on who can use the machine. People can punch in a ZIP code and receive the supplies anonymously at all hours of the day at no cost.

Implementing harm reduction vending machines helps reach people who are not connected to harm reduction services or who are likely to witness or experience an opioid overdose. The harm reduction vending machine provides safe supplies, and the space and time that individuals may need to start to recover. It is a great resource for those who may want to pick up supplies to assist a friend or loved one who may be struggling with substance abuse.

In the first two weeks of service, the vending machine on Sunset Avenue has dispensed 650 syringes, 154 kits for the use of crack cocaine, 26 wound care kits, and 12 boxes of Narcan.

While recent data has shown that access to naloxone or syringes has reduced opioid overdose deaths and lowered the transmission of viral hepatitis, HIV and other blood-borne infections, opioid overdose deaths remain a critical public health challenge in New Jersey and across the country. In 2023, more than seven New Jersey residents per day died from an overdose. Substance use disorders were also the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in New Jersey.

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“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on our nation, and too many families have suffered its consequences. By paying attention to the data and prioritizing harm reduction strategies over the past seven years, we have built a framework of supports to reduce the harms of substance use, streamline access to treatment, and support families in recovery,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “These strategies are saving lives. I am heartened to see this reduction in overdose deaths, and I look forward to the impact our growing network of Harm Reduction Centers will have as we work to put an end to the opioid crisis in New Jersey.”

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