F3.02 - IGNITE: Reducing Barriers: Use of Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Disease Prevention and Self-efficacy Building

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover the innovative approach to reducing infectious disease and overdoses in the Cincinnati region. The Harm Reduction vending machine is a low-barrier approach to introduce people who use/inject drugs to evidence-based practices that reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Harm reduction is our mission, to make things safer to our community members. Learn how we have distributed over 53,000 harm reduction items to our community members, including safer injection kits, naloxone, at-home HIV tests, and more. Understand how we adapt to participant needs by staying up to date in drug trends and using client feedback. Hear from our firsthand experience how we've worked with clients to transition to safer administration methods, while boosting self-efficacy and reducing internalized stigma.

Detailed abstract description: People who use drugs deserve access to evidence-based practices to reduce the spread of communicable and infectious diseases. With our 24/7 vending machine, we have successfully engaged over 3,000 participants in harm reduction methods, distributed over 5,500 naloxone kits with over 4,000 reported overdose reversals, and handed out in total over 53,000 safer use products. Our vending machine contains, safer injection kits, safer smoking kits, fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips, pregnancy tests, self-HIV test kits, wound care kits, condoms, Plan B, and both nasal and intramuscular naloxone. Clients create a unique pin number that is good for 90-days, and are able to access vending machine items once a week. Clients must re-engage with harm reduction staff to complete a survey for code renewals and the initial sign-up. Through this continued engagement we are able to connect the clients to other social service referrals, and track changes in drug-use patterns. Through this presentation you will learn about the software and data collection aspects of our vending machine that allow us to track item distribution, client engagement, and technical assistance. Just as life is always changing, so are the contents of our vending machine. Caracole takes pride in applying client feedback and staying up to date on drug trends. When Xylazine became prominent in the Hamilton County area in 2023 our team adapted to educating clients on the effects/risks with the drug, adding more items to the wound care kit, increasing linkage to wound care, and adding new test strips so clients are able to make informed decisions about their health-behaviors. Discover how we practice trauma-informed care, spread the message of harm reduction, and engage our clients in safer practices.