The new harm reduction vending machine on UC Clermont’s Batavia campus, located near the rear entrance of the McDonough Building. Photo courtesy Danny Kidd.
Resource provides free essential products to students, community
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College is proud to announce the installation of a new harm reduction vending machine, one of two in Clermont County. The machine is designed to provide essential health and safety items to registered users, free of charge.
To access the vending machine’s items, users must complete an online registration process. This registration is confidential and can be completed online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PCJS2RM. Once registered, access to the machine will be activated within approximately one business day. The machine is located near the rear entrance of the McDonough Building on campus.
The harm reduction vending machine offers a range of free items, including:
– Narcan spray.
– Deterra drug disposal bags.
– first-aid kits.
– sharps containers.
– hygiene kits.
– safer sex kits.
– Fentanyl test strips.
– wound-care kits (available once per week).
Most items are available once per day, apart from the wound care kit, which is available once per week.
This new initiative underscores UC Clermont’s commitment to fostering a safer and healthier community. The college is partnering with the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board to provide the vending machine, which — along with ongoing product purchases — is paid for by an anonymous donor via the college’s Sophia Fund for Innovation and contributions from UC Clermont faculty and staff.
Jill Gomez, UC Clermont professor of social work for 20 years, said offering the harm reduction resources to both the college’s students and the other local residents underscores the importance of UC Clermont’s role in serving the community. Gomez was instrumental in spearheading the effort to bring the harm reduction vending machine to the Batavia campus.
“There are students and community members near our college who lack access to washing machines, shampoo and deodorants,” said Gomez. “We wanted to make some of these basic items available, as well as provide Narcan and wound kits to individuals who may have a family member struggling with an opiate addiction, etc. This machine represents the latest way that UC Clermont can be a force for positive outcomes in our community.”
For questions about the harm reduction vending machine, contact Jenn Radt, UC Clermont assistant dean of student affairs at Jennifer.Radt@uc.edu.