Utah News Dispatch
New ‘harm reduction’ vending machines project launches in Weber County
Ogden is pictured on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
A coalition of local groups aiming to protect people from drug abuse and sexually transmitted infections have launched a new initiative to install 10 “harm reduction” vending machines across Weber County.
Weber Human Services and Ogden City Communities that Care announced the project in a news release issued Thursday, saying its aimed “improving public health and safety across Weber County.”
“The project will install 10 harm reduction vending machines throughout the county in its first year, offering free, accessible supplies including naloxone kits, fentanyl test strips, hygiene items, safe sex supplies, and resource information for treatment and recovery services,” the news release said.
Each vending machine “will track supply distribution, providing valuable insights into community needs, usage patterns, and trends over time,” the coalition said. “This data will inform future expansion and help guide prevention and intervention strategies.”
The vending machines will initially be installed at locations including the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, Ogden Police Department, Weber Human Services, Midtown Community Health Clinic, Lantern House, Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness, and Seager Memorial Clinic — all in Ogden.
Ogden in Weber County has the state’s second-highest population of people experiencing homelessness, second to Salt Lake County, according to state data.
“These machines are about meeting people where they are and removing barriers to care,” David Sekulich, coalition coordinator for Ogden City Communities That Care, said in a prepared statement. “By increasing access to life-saving tools and information, we are taking a proactive approach to preventing overdose deaths and supporting recovery.”
The sites for the vending machines were chosen based on their “ability to reach diverse populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness, those involved in the justice system, and people accessing healthcare and recovery services,” the coalition said.
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Additional vending machine sites are planned as the program expands, according to the coalition.
The partners involved in the project hope it will result in reduced overdose deaths, increased collaboration between public health and safety organizations, and long-term cost savings through decreased emergency room visits, arrests, and homeless shelter use. The coalition said the project’s partners will use its initial data to “evaluate effectiveness, expand to additional locations, and explore sustainable funding models to ensure long-term impact.”
The project in Weber County comes as state and Salt Lake leaders are also looking for ways to decrease pressure on the criminal justice and homeless shelter systems, including by focusing on “high utilizers,” or the top most-arrested people who repeatedly cycle through jails, shelters and emergency rooms.
“This project represents a powerful collaboration across healthcare, public safety, and community organizations,” said Jerika Mays, executive director of the Seager Memorial Clinic. “Together, we are building a healthier and safer Weber County.”
