Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

Gail Rose, Ph.D., of the UVM Center on Rural Addiction, and Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D.

(SEPTEMBER 1, 2023) Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Gail Rose, Ph.D., director of best practices and clinical and translational cores at the UVM Center on Rural Addiction, and Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., professor of medicine and associate dean for graduate medical education at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, were quoted in an NBC5 story about the state’s latest step in ending overdose deaths: Vermont’s first naloxone vending machine—providing anonymous, 24/7 access to the life-saving drug naloxone, also known as Narcan—located in the village of Johnson.

“It’s [in] a central location; it’s going to be free to community members—no questions asked,” said Rose.

Levine said he attributes the ever-increasing number of overdose deaths “to everything we’ve been through, whether it’s pandemic, whether it’s floods, you name it. But, also, to the toxicity of the drug supply.”

Health officials say it’s more important now than ever to be able to help stop an overdose and save a life.

While this is the first Narcan vending machine in Vermont—unveiled on Overdose Awareness Day, August 31—the health department said it won’t be the last. Plans are already moving forward to bring similar vending machines to other towns across the state.