NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Berkshire Harm Reduction has put out the first vending machine in Massachusetts for clients containing harm reduction supplies free for people to access after-hours.

What You Need To Know

  • Berkshire Harm Reduction has put a vending machine for use after hours

  • The vending machine will contain harm reduction supplies 

  • The machine is the first deployed in the Commonwealth

  • Berkshire Harm Reduction is open 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday

The vending machine has supplies like wound care kits, safer injection equipment, test strips, feminine hygiene products and more which are usually available during business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This new vending machine will only be available to use when offices are closed.

“It’s all hours of the day that people need access to these services so having that available anytime will hopefully continue to decrease rates of HIV and Hepatitis C and other things that come into play when people are sharing supplies or engaging in riskier behaviors,” said Berkshire Harm Reduction’s program manager, Sarah DeJesus.

The machine will be registered with a client where they will be given a code to use. 

There will be some supplies available to everyone even if they do not have a code. 

The organization says they are hopeful more vending machines will be added throughout Berkshire County in the future.

The vending machine is located at Berkshire Harm Reduction’s North Adams site at 6 Main Street.