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Stephanie Wiechmann
There's a new vending machine coming to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, but it won't dispense sweet treats or cool beverages. Instead, it gives out free naloxone kits. The medication can reverse an opioid overdose if given soon enough to a person showing overdose symptoms. The hospital's vending machine holds 300 free naloxone kits, and is one of nearly 20 being placed across the state.

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Stephanie Wiechmann
But it isn't the first free naloxone box in Muncie. As part of the same program, small acrylic naloxone boxes were placed in several neighborhoods in late 2021, with more coming. Currently, they can be found in the Old West End, Thomas Park, Avondale, and East Central neighborhoods. Muncie Folk Collective is responsible for the neighborhood boxes. They hold 10 to 15 naloxone kits, but are restocked twice daily.

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Stephanie Wiechmann
The organization says nearly 800 kits are going to the Muncie community each month. In the state of Indiana for the period covering most of 2021, data shows fatal overdoses increased by 21%. In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.