Narcan Vending Machines Stationed in Wenatchee & Moses Lake

Vending machines stocked with Narcan are stationed in Wenatchee and Moses Lake, thanks to North Central Accountable Community of Health. Narcan is a common treatment for opioid overdoses.

Narcan nasal spray medication is typically provided by a pharmacy or by a doctor and this can be an accessibility barrier for struggling addicts.

"A lot of them don't have access to get it because they don't see a family doctor regularly and they can't afford a prescription," said Joey Hunter, Recovery Coach Network Coordinator for North Central Accountable Community of Health. "This is a way to have undeterred access to the lifesaving medication."

The idea for Narcan vending machines stemmed from a team of recovery champions at a Central Washington Recovery Coalition meeting. The idea came to fruition by tapping into unspent grant funds to purchase the vending machines and medicine.

"We want to advance recovery support in our region and this one of the ways we do that, by supporting harm reduction," said Hunter.

Over the course of the pandemic, there's been a 35% rise in opioid overdoses nationwide. The Narcan vending machines are in the Alano Club in Wenatchee and the Open Doors Homeless Sleeping Center in Moses Lake.