Milwaukee County looks to expand harm reduction vending machine program

MILWAUKEE COUNTY (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee city leaders sought to expand what they called a lifesaving program to prevent drug overdoses Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Leaders with Milwaukee County said they wanted to grow their harm reduction vending machine program.

"In the six months since those initial 11 vending machines were placed, members of our community have obtained close to 2,500 fentanyl test strips and 2,100 naloxone boxes," said Dr. Ben Weston, chief health advisor with Milwaukee County.

The program started back in March, with one vending machine offering resources like Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and even gun locks.

"We can be hopeful, we are starting to see a flattening of the curve of opioid overdoses in our community," said Weston.

Now county leaders are looking to bring eight more machines to what they call high traffic areas.

"If you own, if you visit a place of business that sees a large and varied population, whether that be a hotel or restaurant or gas station or an office building, please consider advocating for that business to apply for one of these vending machines," said Weston.

The county's goal is to have 25 of the machines placed throughout the county by 2025.

"We need to be making sure that we are getting these folks, who are going through their own crisis, access to these lifesaving measures," said County Executive David Crowley.

The lifesaving tools are not lost on the community.

"To say, hey, this is a crisis, we're losing so many people, but we don’t have to," said Tahira Malik, founder of Samad's House, a sober living home that helps women.

Malik said she knows firsthand the toll drug can take on one's life, as she had her own battle with addiction.

"I understand the peril of addiction, but not only that, I've lost so many people to addiction," said Malik.

The entrepreneur, now on the other side of addiction, said she's proud the county is taking on what she calls a war on drugs.

"It makes me excited because that tells me that the county is so invested in solving this opioid crisis," said Malik."

If you would like to apply for a vending machine, click the link here.

In 2023, 480 people died due to drug overdoses.