City of Lawrence installs Narcan vending machines

ByIzabelle Koenig

The city of Lawrence install machines to help the community.

A Narcan vending machine in Lawrence, Kansas | Grace Johnson//KUJH

Izabelle Koenig | @iz.koeing

The city of Lawrence Homeless Solutions Division funds three new vending machines filled with medication used to reverse opioid overdoses near community centers across the city. The machines are one part of the division’s plan for the grant money they received from Kansas Fights Addiction. 

Vending machines filled with naloxone, or Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, are available in Lawrence. These vending machines are located outside of the Lawrence Community Shelter, the Homeless Resource Center and the Heartland Community Health Center. They were installed on Aug. 22, and the city plans on adding more to have at least eight available. 

“My hope is that it’s easily accessible to everyone,” said Misty Bosch-Hastings, the Director of Homeless Solutions for the City of Lawrence. “We have put up three additional machines, I’ve ordered five more, just because we have the grant funds to do it, and I wanna do as much as we can, and get as much product out as we can.” 

A $200,000 grant from Kansas Fights Addiction to the Homeless Solutions Division will fund the eight machines equipped with naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips. The grant will also fund additional staff training according to a statement on the city’s website. 

Increasing access to Narcan is one of the most effective ways to decrease opioid-related deaths, according to the National Institutes of Health. Bosch-Hastings hopes to install machines on the University’s campus as well. 

A collaboration with Schmidt Vending allowed the grant to extend farther than the initial plan of one machine, according to the city. Used machines were repurposed to save money and allow more machines to be installed. 

“This project is a great example of community collaboration and innovation – with many partner organizations coming together in an effort to save more lives.” Bosch-Hastings said in the statement.

The three machines are available here:

  • Lawrence Community Shelter | 3655 E 25th St., Lawrence, KS 66046
  • Homeless Resource Center | 944 Kentucky St., Lawrence, KS 66044
  • Heartland Community Health Center | 1312 W 6th St., Lawrence, KS 66044

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