Public health vending machines now available in Portage County [Video]

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) – The Portage County Division of Public Health has launched a public health vending machine to provide an easily accessible method for the public to obtain a range of harm-reduction supplies with minimal access requirements.

The Portage County PHVM will offer the following items at no cost: nasal Narcan (Naloxone), fentanyl testing strips, xylazine testing strips, Hope Kits, cable gun locks, tick kits, Deterra medication disposal bags, condom kits, Hepatitis C home test kits, general hygiene kits, feminine hygiene kits, emergency blankets, and resource material packets.

The temperature-regulated PHVM is located outside of the Ruth Gilfry Center entrance at 817 Whiting Ave. in Stevens Point. Community members will utilize only their zip code to dispense products from the machine. Other personal protected information will not be collected.

Portage County Health and Human Services says some of the products will have dispensing limits to ensure everyone has …