Ocean County’s first harm-reduction vending machine offers free naloxone, other supplies
The 24/7 machine outside a Toms River health clinic provides free, anonymous access to overdose-prevention and other harm-reduction supplies.
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A new vending machine in Toms River is offering free, around-the-clock access to naloxone and other supplies aimed at preventing overdoses and reducing health risks associated with drug use.
The machine, located outside Suburban Health Clinic, is the first harm-reduction vending machine in Ocean County, according to VNA Health Group.
Prevention Resource Network, a VNA Health Group program, partnered with Suburban Health Clinic to install the machine, which is available anonymously 24 hours a day.
Along with naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, the machine provides sterile syringes, safer-smoking kits, adulterant test strips, wound-care supplies, sharps containers and condoms. A kiosk next to the machine allows people to safely dispose of used syringes.
PRN stocks and maintains the machine as an extension of its existing harm-reduction services in Ocean County. Counselors from the organization also provide outreach at Suburban Health Clinic on Mondays, including supplies, education and connections to health care and other resources.
“The supplies offered in this vending machine prevent overdose and reduce transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other bloodborne diseases,” Cole Zaccaro, manager of harm reduction services at PRN, said in a statement.
The machine began operating July 20. During its first week, VNA Health Group said participants received 110 syringes, 39 safer-smoking kits and eight wound-care kits, along with naloxone, test strips, condoms and sharps containers.
PRN operates a similar vending machine in Asbury Park that opened in April 2025. According to VNA Health Group, that machine distributed more than 50,000 harm-reduction supplies through June 2026, including 566 boxes of naloxone. Most distributions occurred between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
