EASTHAMPTON — A few months ago a resident asked the city’s Health Department how they could acquire fentanyl test strips, one of several harm reduction products the city makes available for free upon request, without having to ask for them in person at the Municipal Building.

“I put them in an envelope and put them outside in the hallway on top of one of our filing cabinets, so they could get it,” Health Director Bri Dupras said.

In fulfilling the request, Dupras began to consider that there may be others who want the strips, but are worried about showing their face to get them. She wondered if the request model in place was a barrier in preventing overdoses, despite the fact that the city has them available to residents for free through its Harm Reduction Product Program.

To address this concern, the Health Department recently launched an ordering system that allows residents to pick up fentanyl test strips and other items such as the overdose reversal drug Naloxone, or Narcan, without giving their name. Residents who use the system can now use an online form to place their order, then pick up their order inside a new $40 box that has been mounted outside of the Health Department office on the bottom floor of the Municipal Building at 50 Payson Ave.

The city may soon install vending machines at which people could pick up the various harm reduction products. In addition to fentanyl and Narcan, other products include condoms, rapid COVID-19 tests, face masks and hand sanitizer.

Last year, the city began offering opioid rescue kits, equipped with three nasal spray doses of Narcan, a rescue-breathing mask, medical gloves and step-by-step instructions.

Dupras says she carries Narcan on her at all times.

“To me, it’s similar to being CPR-trained. Someone could overdose at the grocery store, at a kid’s soccer game. I think everyone should have it,” she said. “And we’ve had Narcan and the fentanyl testing strips here for a while and wanted to make the public aware that they have access to them.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration announced last April that federal funding could be used to purchase fentanyl test strips and support community and state efforts to make those products available to lower the risk of overdoses.

In 2021, there were 2,156 opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts where a toxicology screen was available, according to the state Department of Public Health. Among these deaths, fentanyl was present in 93% of cases. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin, according to the CDC. The synthetic opioid has been found in local street supplies of heroin, cocaine and counterfeit pills such as Xanax and Adderall without users’ knowledge.

Vending machines

Dupras said At-Large Councilor Owen Zaret recently asked if the department could implement a program similar to one established in Salem that uses vending machines to distribute public health items to the public for reduced or no cost.

“That began a very productive discussion about health product distribution and what intermediary steps we can take in the absence of vending machines,” Zaret said in a statement. In addition to Dupras, others involved in the discussion include public health nurse Bridget Diggins and community social worker Liz Plouffe.

Until vending machines are installed, residents can anonymously order items through a Google form, at https://forms.gle/Neso2oeSXZ5Yb7gQ8.

Those who request items will choose a five-digit number, and Health Department staff members will fill the order in a bag labeled with the selected number. Orders will be fulfilled within 48 hours of the initial request, Dupras said.

Products are then placed in a black drop box labeled “Item Request Pick Up Location.”

“The drop box is located before my door, so you don’t have to pass by my office or show your face. I wouldn’t even see a person if they were getting something out there,” she said.

Residents can also come into the office during the week from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and request items in person if they’d prefer.

Informational cards with step-by-step instructions will be included in all requests for naloxone and fentanyl testing strips, as well as local resources.

In addition to Narcan and fentanyl testing strips, the state provided the COVID-19 tests, masks and sanitizer to distribute to the community during the pandemic, and the condoms were provided by sexual and reproductive health clinic Tapestry.

Vending machines with more health products, placed in discrete spots throughout the city, is a longer-term goal.

“There are many products that are necessary for harm reduction and public health, but there are social and economic barriers to acquiring them,” Zaret said. “We as a municipality can be a great facilitator in reducing those barriers. This is a great offshoot of work already successfully done with our Nalox box program, and a great implementation with simple resources to provide the public with much-needed items.”

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>