The Victorian government is installing free vending machines containing a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses as part of a $95.11 million program to “reduce drug harms and expand care”.
The 20 machines will contain packets of naxolone containing two nasal spray doses, and three have already been installed at the Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre, Bayside Health in Melbourne and Sunshine Hospital, Western Health in Brimbank, the government said on Monday.
More vending machines will soon be installed at the Bendigo Community Health Services in Greater Bendigo, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland, Primary Care Connect in Greater Shepparton, Your Community Health East Reservoir in Darebin, Latrobe Community Health Service Morwell in Latrobe, Ballarat Community Health in Ballarat, Sunraysia Community Health Service in Mildura, and at Gateway Health in Wangaratta.
Frankston, Maribyrnong, Greater Geelong, Bass Coast, Greater Dandenong, Melbourne and Yarra will also get machines, which will be in operation 24/7.
“Machines will be placed in locations with high drug harms and supported by approved naloxone providers, ensuring more Victorians can access this life-saving medication when it matters most,” the government said.
“The naloxone dispensing machine trial will help expand access to this life-saving medication and support more Victorians to respond in an emergency.
“Overdose can affect people taking prescribed opioid medicines like, fentanyl, people using illicit drugs, or people who unknowingly take substances that contain opioids. Highly potent synthetic opioids like nitazenes are also making overdoses faster and more difficult to predict and are being found in substances such as cocaine, ketamine and MDMA.”
The roll-out comes after a spate of overdoses caused by cocaine containing opioids across Victoria, and a warning from the Victorian government recommending illegal drug users carry naxolone.
Header image: One of the naxolone vending machines (Victorian government).
