Linn County to receive naloxone distribution machines

Linn County Public Health is working on a project that will place seven vending machines stocked with free naloxone — a medication that combats the effects of opioid overdose — at public locations in Linn County.

The vending machines will contain naloxone, which can reverse an overdose and is harmless if given to someone who is not experiencing an overdose. The machines also will stock wound care kits, condom packs, hygiene kits, alcohol swabs, tampons and sharps containers.

“The idea is actually not a new idea. If you look across the country and even internationally, other countries and other states have been using vending machines to help distribute naloxone to residents,” said Heather Meador, clinical services branch manager for Linn County Public Health.

“It’s really to set up low-barrier, easy access so that clients, or families and friends, can get resources that they need.”

The machines and the naloxone are being funded by $150,000 that was allocated to Linn County as part of nationwide settlements with opioid drug manufacturers. The other supplies in the machines are being funded through other resources.

The Substance Misuse Steering Committee of Linn County, which is comprised of representatives from several government and nonprofit groups that work to minimize the effects of substance use in the county, will manage the upkeep of the machines.

“The goal is just to make naloxone and these supplies accessible and to remove barriers so that individuals can get what they need to stay healthy and stay alive,” Meador said.

Iowa reported 475 fatal opioid overdoses in 2021, a 12 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Linn and Johnson Counties, drug-related deaths have been rising consistently since 2018, mirroring national trends. Numbers dropped between 2017 and 2018, likely because in 2017 naloxone was made available over-the-counter in Iowa.

But from 2018 to 2022, drug-related deaths increased from 19 to 36 in Linn County and from 13 to 48 in Johnson County, according to Linn and Johnson counties’ medical examiners.

Some Iowa schools stock naloxone

Last year, a number of Iowa school districts — including Cedar Rapids and Iowa City schools — adopted policies and procedures to stock and administer naloxone at schools.

The previous year, the Iowa Legislature passed a new law allowing school districts to receive prescriptions for naloxone and created a fund to cover the cost.

The law also established a fund to ensure first responders have access to naloxone and other potentially lifesaving medications to reverse opioid overdoses.

Locations of vending machines still being finalized

The public health department hasn’t released information yet about when and where the machines will be available. Meador said the department has approval for most of the intended locations, but still is working on one last agreement.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors at a meeting earlier this month approved putting one of the machines in the Linn County Community Services Building, 1240 26th Ave Court SW, Cedar Rapids.

Meador said some of the machines will be placed inside buildings and others will be accessible outside.

“When there is substance misuse, not everybody is going to be ready for treatment all at one time. It’s a journey, and sometimes people are in treatment and they have a relapse. It ebbs and it flows,” Meador said. “We want to make sure that they know that we’re there to walk beside you, and to help you, and we want to keep you as healthy as possible. That’s really our goal, is how do we keep you healthy, and how do we keep you alive?”

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