Outside the NeighborHealth Center in East Boston, a new vending machine is offering far more than snacks and water.

"We have socks, we have gloves, we have blankets," explained Desiree Millett, Clinical Administrative Director of Recovery Services. "We also have what we call 'safer use kits' for people who actively use drugs."

Clean needles, fentanyl test strips

The machine is stocked with essential items like clean needles, fentanyl test strips, and free naloxone, also known as Narcan, the life-saving medication which quickly reverses opioid overdoses. The product is free and accessible when a user provides a zip code.

Since 2023, Millett has been working to bring the machine to the clinic through a Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) grant aimed to make naloxone more accessible in

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