Fifteen Wisconsin agencies, including two in the Madison area, will get a total of nearly $1 million to install vending machines with fentanyl test strips and overdose-reversal drug naloxone, or Narcan, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The state Department of Health Services announced the grants Thursday, recognized as International Overdose Awareness Day. Funding comes from the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.
Recorded opioid overdoses in the state last year hit 1,410, with 118 in Dane County. Over 90% of overdose deaths involved fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. Many also involved methamphetamine or cocaine. Figures for 2022 won’t be finalized until fall, but it’s likely few or no additional reports for last year are still being processed.
Among agencies receiving money to set up the vending machines are Madison Street Medicine and Monona-based Tellurian Behavioral Health. The machines will offer a more private way of obtaining the materials than speaking with workers at an agency.
Previously, 26 health departments and other statewide agencies were awarded a total of $2 million for vending machines. That money came from opioid settlement funds; the state health department has received around $40 million so far. With the new grants, nearly 50 of the machines are expected to soon be available around Wisconsin.
