‘Save as many lives as possible’: Recovery advocate praises Richmond’s expansion of harm reduction vending machine program
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The city of Richmond is expanding access to life-saving resources for people struggling with addiction through its harm reduction vending machine program.
Over the past six months, city officials say three harm reduction vending machines across Richmond have dispensed nearly 1,000 doses of naloxone, providing life-saving resources to people struggling with opioid addiction.
Now, with new grant funding, the city is expanding the program from three machines to six, doubling access to these 24-hour resources.
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Brittany Ahrend, who is currently in recovery, told 8News that initiatives like these are necessary.
"Two weeks into recovery, my heart stopped twice," Ahrend said. "I literally dropped to the floor in front of my mom."
Ahrend said she battled prescription drug addiction for more than 10 years.
"It was to the point that I was like skin and bones -- I looked like a skeleton," she said. "I looked really sick. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep."
Now two and a half years into recovery, Ahrend works as a recovery advocate, helping inmates at Riverside Regional Jail take steps toward recovery.
"Once you're in it, it's really hard to get out of it, especially if you don't know where to find the right resources," Ahrend said.
Anna Jones, Richmond’s opioid strategist, said all items in the vending machines are free and do not require ID or personal information. Users select their preferred language and enter a zip code to help track usage, then choose the item they want.
Available items include naloxone, fentanyl test strips, xylazine, nitazene and medetomidine test strips, first aid kits, hygiene supplies and menstrual products.
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Jones said the low-barrier approach allows residents to take control of their safety without facing cost or stigma. The new vending machines will add a larger variety of drug-checking strips.
After the Richmond City Council passed Ordinance 2026-037, Richmond was authorized to accept a strategic grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.
"The introduction of these machines would not be possible without dedicated collaboration of our community partners," Jones said. "Health Brigade’s Comprehensive Harm Reduction Team, Richmond Henrico Health District and the Richmond Opioid Task Force introduced these initiatives in early 2024 and continue to provide vital support for this expansion."
According to the city, officials are preparing North Avenue, Broad Rock Boulevard and Ginter Park Library as sites for the new machines.
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Installation is still in progress, but current vending machines can be found at Marshall Plaza, Southside Plaza and the East End Library.
"The ultimate goal, I think -- especially with these vending machines, but for the entire recovery community ... is to save as many lives as possible," Ahrend said.
