New vending machines are popping up throughout Allegheny County, but not the kind filled with soda and snacks.
So far, three new machines have been installed by the County Health Department, and are stocked with the overdose-reversal medication Narcan.
The machines, which offer the medication free of charge, are located on the South Side, Brookline and McKeesport, with four more machines on the way.
Erin Dalton, Director of the County's Department of Human Services, tells Marty Griffin on KDKA Radio that it's important to have life-saving medication available to all.
“It’s a really sad thing if a young child gets access to opioids, but it happens and Narcan is safe for even very young children, even infants,” said Dalton. “So, people should be locking up prescription drugs, any other kinds of things that are unsafe for children but, if it happens, Narcan is safe for even young children.”
County officials say their ultimate goal is to reduce overdose deaths.
Get more information from the ACHD here.
In Washington County, Overdose deaths are down 50 percent from 2021 to 2023.
Coroner Tim Warco told the Observer Reporter it's the second consecutive year the county has seen overdose deaths go down.
Officials credit anti-drug campaigns, aggressive enforcement of drug laws and the use of overdose-reversing drugs like Narcan.