This vending machine at East 48th Avenue doesn’t dispense chips and soda, but life-saving prescription drugs for the homeless.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has expanded its pharmacy capabilities by offering medications such as inhalers, Narcan nasal spray for opioid overdoses and antihistamines for allergies through a vending machine located at the 48th Avenue Health Center, located next to two of Denver’s largest congregate shelters.
Made by the California pharmaceutical company PickPoint, the vending machine is technically a “remote dispensing machine,” says Joanna Leonard, the CCH chief clinical officer. CCH installed it at the clinic, located at 4600 East 48th Avenue, about six months ago. In addition to life-saving medication, the vending machine also dispenses lidocaine pain ointments, laxatives and nicotine patches…