By Lookout Staff
May 5, 2025 -- LA County Public Health has launched vending machines at three Community Health Stations in Santa Monica that dispense "lifesaving products," including Fentanyl test strips and condoms, to the homeless.
The Health Department on Monday announced the program that is now available at the 51 Health Stations that have opened this year, including three at The People Concern facilities in Santa Monica.
The vending machines dispense the following free products:
- One COVID-19 Self-Test Kit containing two tests;
- One carton of Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, containing two single-use devices in blister packages and instructions for use;
- One Fentanyl Test Strip (FTS) Kit containing five individually- packaged strips and instructions for use;
- One package holding five external condoms and five non-spermicidal lubricants, and
- One individually wrapped internal condom and instructions for use.
The products, said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer “allow individuals to take actions that protect themselves and others in the community.
“Having free public health supplies available to residents seven days a week through the self-service Community Health Stations makes it easier to access important products that support health and save live,” Ferrer said.
The self-serve vending machines are located at the Community Health Station in Samoshel, which is open 24/7 and at the Station in the Access Center next door, which is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The third vending machine is located at Turning Point at 1447 16th Street and is open Monday through Friday 24/7.
The vending machine's "easy-to-use" touchscreen will offer "a short voluntary anonymous survey" used to collect "basic demographic information," County officials said.
The Community Health Stations were developed in partnership with Public Health’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Bureau, and the Division of HIV and STD Programs, officials said.
