New York City officials yesterday proudly unveiled their latest offering to residents: a free “public health” vending machine that dispenses crack pipes, the overdose-reversing drug Narcan, and fentanyl test strips.
The machine in Brownsville, Brooklyn, is the first of its kind in New York. The city’s Democrats hailed it as a watershed moment, a public health moment, and called a press conference to tout their initiative and promise more in the future.
To access the contents of the machine, residents simply need to enter the correct zip code.
After that they have free access to the strips, Narcan, condoms, tampons, nicotine gum, first aid kits and the ‘safer smoking kits’, sanitary napkins, vitamin C and COVID-19 tests.
New York City officials yesterday proudly unveiled their latest offering to residents: a free, safe drug-dispensing machine that dispenses crack pipes, the overdose-reversing drug Narcan, and fentanyl test strips
First aid kits with Narcan and nasal spray are also provided free of charge
A ‘safer smoking kit’ with a heavy stem, mouthpiece, pusher, 6 screens, chore filter and lip balm for people who want to smoke crack
The kits, produced by SmokeWorksPipes.com, include a “heavy stem, mouthpiece, pestle, 6 screens, chore filter, and lip balm.” While this machine doesn’t include them, NYC officials say they’ll be adding syringes soon.
They may be free to residents, but each machine costs the city $11,000. It is unclear how many are planned.
“We are in the middle of an overdose crisis in our city, which takes a fellow New Yorker away from us every three hours and is a major contributor to the declining life expectancy in NYC. But we will continue to fight to keep our neighbors and loved ones alive with care, compassion and action.
“We will leave no stone unturned until we can reverse trends in opioid-related deaths in our city,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan proud yesterday.
Elan Quashie (blue patterned shirt), the program director of the opioid overdose prevention program, gave a demo to locals yesterday
Rose Meredith uses a new vending machine in Brooklyn that will dispense fentanyl test strips and naloxone, as well as hygiene kits, maxi pads, vitamin C and COVID-19 tests
Safe smoking kits, first aid kits, condoms, fentanyl test strips, and Narcan are all provided for free
But some city residents and Republicans are baffled that their tax dollars are being spent facilitating drug use.
“This my friends is another reason why democratically run cities are hellholes!
‘Get your free crack pipes courtesy of the taxpayer!! Insanity!!! NYC vending machine offers free Narcan, drug test strips,” one said.
“What could go wrong?” said another.
“I assume no one eats candy bars anymore… Remember when Narcan was only allowed to be used by trained professionals?” asked another jaded New Yorker.
“These people are idiots. They’re giving away crack pipes, needles are next, and Narcan.
“How about just giving away the Narcan and not the crack pipe and needles?” another smoked.
Outrage: Many New Yorkers called it a waste of taxpayers’ money