Overdose Prevention & Safe Choice Resources
The Howard County Health Department has installed two Naloxone & Safe Choice Vending Machines to provide around-the-clock, barrier-free access to life-saving tools. These automated machines are completely free to use and require no face-to-face interaction, offering a private, stigma-free way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Each machine is stocked with:
- Two-dose boxes of Naloxone for emergency overdose reversal.
- Test strips to check substances for fentanyl, xylazine, barbiturates, and medetomidine.
- Condoms and health resources, including QR codes you can scan on your phone for instant naloxone training and direct links to recovery services.
- Grassroots Day Resource Center at Leola Dorsey
- Address: 10390 Guilford Rd., Jessup, MD 20794
- Placement: Located on the right side of the front entrance
- Howard County Health Department
- Address: 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045
- Placement: Located on the right-side entrance of the Health Department building, under the green Environmental Health awning near Silverman Treatment Solutions
Each vending machine is located outdoors and available 24/7.
The outdoor locations for the vending machines were determined using data from the Howard County Substance Use Dashboard and Overdose Risk Map, along with feedback from stakeholders on accessibility and areas of highest need:
Our community is fighting the opioid crisis with data and empathy. Between June 2025 and May 2026, Howard County emergency personnel administered naloxone to 163 individuals, while 13 of our neighbors tragically lost their lives to opioid-related overdoses (Source: Maryland Department of Health Overdose Dashboard). By making these tools available 24/7, we can prevent fatalities, lower the barriers to care, and support our community members whenever they are ready to seek help.
National studies show that these vending machines are highly effective at combating the opioid crisis by lowering barriers like stigma, cost, and limited pharmacy hours, leading to measurable drops in overdose fatalities. (source: National Library of Medication Study 2025). The vending machines provide:
- 24/7 Unrestricted Access: Unlike pharmacies or clinics, these machines operate around the clock, meaning individuals can get naloxone during evenings, weekends, or emergencies when traditional services are closed.
- No Cost Barrier: items offered in the machine are all free of charge – to remove the barrier of affordability.
- Complete Anonymity: Vending machines remove the need for face-to-face interaction, providing a stigma-free experience for people who may feel judged or uncomfortable asking a pharmacist or healthcare worker.
- Low-Barrier Engagement: The machines can also serve as a bridge to training and other resources. By sharing QR codes alongside the medication, we can link users to immediate naloxone administration training, and other resources that support mental health, housing, and substance use treatment services.
While all items in the machine are provided free of charge, individuals must input basic demographic information for internal data collection purposes.
Funding for this project was provided through the Opioid Restitution Fund, which is administered by the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services.