Kane County's Lifesaving Vending Machine
A vending machine in the Kane County Sheriff’s Office lobby now offers free Narcan, an opioid overdose-reversal drug, available 24/7 with no questions asked. Each dose includes fentanyl test strips. The machine holds over 50 packs and officials say, it's already been restocked twice since late April. The Sherriff's Office is located at 37W755 Route 38 in St. Charles on the Kane County Judicial Campus.
“I received an email from Daryl Pass of the Kenneth Young Center, inquiring whether or not we felt like we could use a Narcan vending machine in our Courthouse," said State's Attorney Jamie L. Mosser. “I talked to our chief judge along with our Sheriff and we all collectively thought that the better place for a Narcan vending machine would be at our jail. We do see a significant amount of people who come into the jail and go out of the jail, and those individuals who are going out of the jail after a stay, even of one or two days, could benefit from this if they are going to continue to use drugs. In addition to the free Narcan that people can get we also have fentanyl testing strips. These fentanyl testing strips can be used by individuals to see whether or not there's a presence of fentanyl in their drugs."
The opioid crisis and the use of other drugs remain a priority public health concern in Kane County. Kane County had a combined 156 opioid-related deaths in 2021 and 2022.
“We are pleased and proud to announce that we now have this harm reduction vending machine right in our front vestibule here at the Kane County Sheriff's Office," said Kane County Undersheriff Amy Johnson. “It is accessible 24/7 to anybody that needs it, and it is free to access for all the individuals coming in and out of our system. We know that harm reduction, too, has a stigma going back and forth. We want to make sure going into our communities that we're giving them the best amount of tools to guide them through harm reduction."
The Kane County Health Department’s “Your Story Matters” campaign also aims to destigmatize opioid addiction and provide resources, including free Narcan. More information is available at overdoseinfo.org.
Additional resources are available, including:
Kane County Health Department Opioid Overdose Prevention and Narcan Training 2023. If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about how to administer Narcan, visit: https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/Opioid/Responding-Opioid-Overdose.aspx
Kane County Health Department substance use prevention resources. To learn more about opioid prevention resources in Kane County, visit: https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/Substance-Use-Prevention-and-Treatment.aspx
The Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances. If someone you know is suffering from an opioid use disorder or other substance use disorders, call the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 1- 833-2-FIND-HELP to speak with a trained professional for support and advice or to be directed to customized resources or visit HelplineIL.org.
SAMHSA's National Helpline. A confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365- day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. For more information, visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
