Jul 21, 2025 - News

Where to find Richmond's new harm-reduction vending machines

Karri Peifer

A vending machine with medical looking things in it — Image: Courtesy of the city of Richmond

The city of Richmond installed its first public, harm-reduction vending machines last week, and plans to add more this year.

Why it matters: The machines offer free, anonymous access to life-saving medical supplies 24/7, including Narcan, or naloxone, a drug that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

State play: While Virginia had the second-largest drop in overdose deaths in the country last year, over 1,500 Virginians still died from overdoses.

Fentanyl, the effects of which Narcan can counteract, is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths, per VDH data.
In addition to Narcan, the machines are stocked with fentanyl test strips, first aid kits and personal hygiene items.

If you go: Vending machines were installed last week at Marshall Plaza (downtown) and Southside Plaza (South Richmond).

A third will be added outside of the East End Library later this month.
And additional machines will be added later this year at locations based "on data and community input," per a news release.

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Where to find Richmond's new harm-reduction vending machines

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