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Advocates push drug‑checking and expanded harm‑reduction; officials say vending machines and naloxone distribution show results
Summary
Harm‑reduction groups told the Committee on Health they need faster implementation of drug‑checking machines and more support to keep harm‑reduction vending machines stocked; DBH said naloxone distribution and vending machines are part of a larger prevention and treatment strategy.
Harm‑reduction organizations and advocates told the Committee on Health on May 7 that vending machines, drug‑checking and safe‑consumption models can save lives — but that city implementation of key tools has been slower than promised.
Cindy Clay, executive director of HIPS, told the committee HIPS operates harm‑reduction vending machines that have dispensed tens of thousands of prevention items but that the machines are running empty frequently. "The machines...are so popular that they're being emptied," she said, and added that nonprofit partners do not have sufficient staff or operating funds to restock and maintain the machines at current usage rates.
Clay and other witnesses also urged rapid…
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