Narcan vending machine added outside of Parkview Randallia Hospital

by: Rex Smith

Posted: Jan 4, 2023 / 12:33 PM EST

Updated: Jan 5, 2023 / 03:53 AM EST

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — A new Narcan vending machine was just made available in the last week outside the emergency room entrance at Parkview Randallia Hospital.

The machine is provided by Overdose Lifeline, Inc. through funding from an initiative set forth by Governor Eric Holcomb's office and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction to increase access to Naloxone to reach vulnerable populations.

Naloxone, or Narcan, is used to reverse the effects of a drug overdose.

The community partner that worked with Parkview to get a vending machine placed on their property is the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance. They will also maintain and restock the vending machine.

Their president, Tonya Hughes, provided this statement:

"The Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance is excited to partner with Parkview in the installation of the new Narcan Vending machine at Parkview Randallia Hospital. Thanks to Captian Kevin Hunter and his team, we have located where narcan vending machines and narcan boxes would be best utilized. We are hopeful that this narcan machine, along with the narcan boxes will save many lives in our community.Thanks to the grants from Overdose Lifeline and The Department of Mental Health and Addiction, this is possible."

Parkview Health shared a statement with WANE 15 about the vending machine:

"The naloxone vending machine at Parkview Hospital Randallia is one of 19 statewide and is available for use by the public. The vending machines are part of an initiative announced by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2021. The program is coordinated by Overdose Lifeline, Inc., an Indiana nonprofit dedicated to helping those affected by substance use disorder.

Parkview Hospital Randallia agreed to serve as a vending machine location as a way to provide residents access to lifesaving medication and ultimately help reduce the number of fatal drug overdoses in our community."

According to hospital staff at Randallia, the vending machine hasn't been live for more than a week and the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance has already had to come replenish its stock.

"I think it says that the need is high and that the location is perfect. Without any real attention, individuals have found it and are using it which is very remarkable," Overdose Lifeline CEO Justin Phillips said.

The vending machines contain free overdose reversal kits which have a shelf life of a couple of years.

The Naloxone Kits in the vending machine at Randallia showed expiration dates of August 2025.

Parkview Randallia Hospital is the first and only planned location Overdose Lifeline has for a vending machine in Allen County, but according to Phillips they have 24-hour pickup boxes placed throughout the county, inlcuding at several Allen county Public Library locations, called NaloxBoxes.

Overdose Lifeline's website includes resources to help with Substance Use Disorder, including a map of all the places to find Narcan in the state of Indiana.

The map includes distribution centers, NaloxBoxes, and the new vending machines.

Phillips told WANE 15 this initiative stems from the pandemic where overdose numbers rose, perhaps due to isolation for so many people.

"We also know there's shame and stigma with drug use, and individuals have a fear of being judged for asking for help and asking for Naloxone. So, when we make it possible for someone to come and access Naloxone free but also not having to have any interaction with another human being, that the distribution increases dramatically," she added.

This story has been edited to include information on Overdose Lifeline's community Partner, the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance, which was not previously included.

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