Delaware News

Delaware Officials Unveil Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, November 14, 2024



DOVER – Leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), along with Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and partners from Brandywine Counseling and Community Services, announced the placement of five harm reduction vending machines across the state at a community briefing on Wednesday.

The items expected to be available in the vending machines include Naloxone kits, Xylazine test strips, Deterra bags, wound care kits, items to help with physical and dental hygiene, and other self-care tools.

The vending machines will be placed at four Brandywine Counseling locations, as well as the Georgetown Pallet Village.

Brandywine Counseling Locations:

  • 2713 Lancaster Ave, Wilmington, DE 19805
  • 24 Brookhill Drive, Newark, DE 19702
  • 698 S. Bay Road Dover, DE 19901
  • 769 E. Masten Circle, Milford, DE 19963

Pallet Village:

  • Springboard Pallet Village, 411 Kimmey Street, Georgetown, DE 19947

The vending machines can be accessed free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Whether it’s 12 p.m. or 3 a.m., these new vending machine sites are essential to removing the stigma around receiving critical, lifesaving supplies,” said Lt. Gov. Hall-Long, PhD, RN, and Chair of the Behavioral Health Consortium. “These are important tools in the toolkit to save lives and meet folks where they are. Substance use disorder is a disease. I’m so proud of Delaware for modeling the way we should treat our residents with respect and dignity, and ensure their success in all aspects of life.

DHSS’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) will routinely stock the machines with Naloxone kits and testing strips. DSAMH is able to accept donations from the public for several items such as wound care kits, travel-sized hygiene items, dental hygiene items, safe sex items, pregnancy kits, and at-home test kits for HIV and Hepatitis C and B. Those interested in donating can contact DSAMH Harm Reduction Coordinator Rebecca Urey at Rebecca.Urey@delaware.gov.

“Our new harm reduction vending machines ensure that people have free, confidential, 24-hour access to Naloxone,” said DSAMH Director Joanna Champney. “The installation of these machines is a critical contribution to our ongoing efforts to save lives and will empower Delawareans with substance use disorder to have the resources that they need.”

To help address behavioral health needs of Delawareans, DHSS has several ways for individuals or their family members to connect:

  • Call the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333 – a single point of contact in which callers can connect to a variety of resources and information, including support from clinicians and peer specialists plus crisis assistance.
  • Stop by one of DHSS’ Bridge Clinics for an in-person assessment.
  • Visit TreatmentConnection.com to find out which treatment providers are located near you.
  • Visit HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ one-stop website where Delawareans can search for treatment services and resources in Delaware or nearby states.
  • Call 988 if the individual is in crisis and needs immediate support.
  • Call 911 if someone has overdosed and needs emergency medical attention.
  • Learn where to find Narcan training, get the medication through the mail, and download the OpiRescueDE App here.
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Delaware Officials Unveil Harm Reduction Vending Machines

Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health | News | Date Posted: Thursday, November 14, 2024



DOVER – Leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), along with Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and partners from Brandywine Counseling and Community Services, announced the placement of five harm reduction vending machines across the state at a community briefing on Wednesday.

The items expected to be available in the vending machines include Naloxone kits, Xylazine test strips, Deterra bags, wound care kits, items to help with physical and dental hygiene, and other self-care tools.

The vending machines will be placed at four Brandywine Counseling locations, as well as the Georgetown Pallet Village.

Brandywine Counseling Locations:

  • 2713 Lancaster Ave, Wilmington, DE 19805
  • 24 Brookhill Drive, Newark, DE 19702
  • 698 S. Bay Road Dover, DE 19901
  • 769 E. Masten Circle, Milford, DE 19963

Pallet Village:

  • Springboard Pallet Village, 411 Kimmey Street, Georgetown, DE 19947

The vending machines can be accessed free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Whether it’s 12 p.m. or 3 a.m., these new vending machine sites are essential to removing the stigma around receiving critical, lifesaving supplies,” said Lt. Gov. Hall-Long, PhD, RN, and Chair of the Behavioral Health Consortium. “These are important tools in the toolkit to save lives and meet folks where they are. Substance use disorder is a disease. I’m so proud of Delaware for modeling the way we should treat our residents with respect and dignity, and ensure their success in all aspects of life.

DHSS’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) will routinely stock the machines with Naloxone kits and testing strips. DSAMH is able to accept donations from the public for several items such as wound care kits, travel-sized hygiene items, dental hygiene items, safe sex items, pregnancy kits, and at-home test kits for HIV and Hepatitis C and B. Those interested in donating can contact DSAMH Harm Reduction Coordinator Rebecca Urey at Rebecca.Urey@delaware.gov.

“Our new harm reduction vending machines ensure that people have free, confidential, 24-hour access to Naloxone,” said DSAMH Director Joanna Champney. “The installation of these machines is a critical contribution to our ongoing efforts to save lives and will empower Delawareans with substance use disorder to have the resources that they need.”

To help address behavioral health needs of Delawareans, DHSS has several ways for individuals or their family members to connect:

  • Call the 24/7 Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or 1-833-946-7333 – a single point of contact in which callers can connect to a variety of resources and information, including support from clinicians and peer specialists plus crisis assistance.
  • Stop by one of DHSS’ Bridge Clinics for an in-person assessment.
  • Visit TreatmentConnection.com to find out which treatment providers are located near you.
  • Visit HelpIsHereDE.com, DHSS’ one-stop website where Delawareans can search for treatment services and resources in Delaware or nearby states.
  • Call 988 if the individual is in crisis and needs immediate support.
  • Call 911 if someone has overdosed and needs emergency medical attention.
  • Learn where to find Narcan training, get the medication through the mail, and download the OpiRescueDE App here.
image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.