WHEATON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 01: Narcan nasal spray for the treatment of opioid overdoses is made available for free in a vending machine by the DuPage County Health Department at the Kurzawa Community Center on September 01, 2022 in Wheaton, Illinois. The vending machine is an attempt by the health department to reduce opioid overdose deaths in the county by making Narcan more accessible to the community. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Los Angeles, California – In a groundbreaking move to improve public health and save lives, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has unveiled 51 new “Community Health Stations” — self-serve vending machines offering free overdose prevention tools, COVID-19 tests, and other vital health supplies.
Launched across neighborhoods throughout the county, the Community Health Stations are designed to make lifesaving resources easily accessible to underserved populations. The machines dispense free COVID-19 self-test kits, naloxone (commonly known by the brand name Narcan) to reverse opioid overdoses, fentanyl test strip kits, and both external and internal condoms.
“COVID-19 self-tests, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and condoms allow individuals to take actions that protect themselves and others in the community,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health. “Having free public health supplies available to residents seven days a week through the self-service Community Health Stations makes it easier to access important products that support health and save lives.”
Authorities have strategically placed the machines in pharmacies, health centers, community organizations, libraries, and homeless shelters, with an interactive map available at ph.lacounty.gov/CommunityHealthStation to help residents find their nearest location.
Each station is equipped with a touchscreen that offers a short, anonymous survey to collect basic demographic information. Participation in the survey is voluntary and not required to access free supplies.
This initiative is part of a broader public health strategy led by the county’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Bureau and the Division of HIV and STD Programs. In addition to the existing 51 machines, officials plan to expand to 100 stations in the coming months.
Residents can also still access free naloxone at clinics held in L.A. County libraries, providing even more opportunities to obtain the overdose-reversing medication quickly and without stigma.
With overdose deaths and drug contamination on the rise, these new health stations offer a low-barrier, community-focused way to save lives and promote harm reduction. Officials hope this model will serve as a blueprint for other counties and cities across the country.
For more information or to request a station at your facility, email [email protected].
