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Board discusses Narcan vending machines, raises questions about tracking and outreach
Summary
Board members asked staff about the county's Narcan vending machines, how often they are refilled and whether usage is being tracked. Staff reported broad anecdotal use and suggested partner reporting; board members recommended adding outreach and low-barrier feedback options such as QR codes and pairing distribution with brief education.
A board member asked for an update on Narcan vending machines during the Jan. 13 McHenry County Board of Health meeting and raised questions about usage tracking and outreach.
A board member: "You know, I just wanted to ask what is the status of those Narcan vending machine things? How are they working there?"
Staff said the vending units are being refilled regularly and that McHenry County College (MCC) has taken over refilling at one location; smaller wall-mounted boxes obtained from the state will be used at some sites. Staff described anecdotal reports that Narcan and testing strips have been used by college students, parents and others in the community and that some community partners (for example, the college and local service providers) report back to the mental health board about distribution and utilization.
Board members pressed for better ways to measure use beyond first-responder encounter forms. Staff and board members discussed simple, low-barrier feedback options — including adding a plain-language note or QR code on or near vending boxes inviting voluntary, anonymous feedback — and suggested pairing distribution with brief outreach and education or offering CPR training where feasible.
Staff cautioned that formal usage data is limited: first-responder reports may note that naloxone was used in an incident, but those reports do not reliably document the source of naloxone (for example, whether it was taken from a county vending box). Staff said anecdotal reports indicate the vending program is serving its intended harm-reduction purpose (for example, family members and laypeople using Narcan to revive someone), but that formal, attributable metrics are not currently available.
Board members suggested the health department coordinate with partner organizations funded by the Mental Health Board to collect basic utilization anecdotes and to build outreach or education at locations with high demand.
