New York City’s latest attempt to combat its opioid overdose epidemic has raised eyebrows. The city installed vending machines that dispense free crack pipes and fentanyl test strips to residents, amongst other items. Public health officials claim that the machines will help reduce overdose deaths by 15% by 2025. However, critics are questioning if the machines are enabling drug use and not tackling the root cause of the problem.
The outrageousness of New York City’s decision to install a vending machine that dispenses free crack pipes is beyond absurd. This so-called “public health” initiative also offers fentanyl test strips, Narcan (an overdose reversal drug), and condoms, among other items. Is this really what taxpayers want their hard-earned money going towards?
The machine was unveiled on Monday in Brooklyn and less than 24 hours later, it was empty. It cost the city $11,000 to install and can be accessed by entering a zip code. That’s right, folks, all you have to do is punch in your zip code and voila! Free drugs and drug paraphernalia at your fingertips.
The excuse for this madness? Public health officials claim that the vending machine is part of the city’s effort to reduce overdose deaths by 15% by 2025. However, it seems more like they’re enabling drug use and putting people’s lives at risk.
According to a health department press release, there were 2,668 overdose deaths in New York in 2021, with 80% involving fentanyl. And just in the first half of 2022, there were 1,370 confirmed overdose deaths. It’s clear that something needs to be done, but this is not the answer.
The vending machine is stocked with a ‘safe smoking kit’ which includes a heavy stem, mouthpiece, pusher, six screens, chore filter, and lip balm. Can you believe that taxpayers’ dollars are being used to supply drug addicts with these harmful tools?
The kit is produced by Smoke Works Pipes, a company which claims that ‘pipes are harm reduction.’ Really? Are we supposed to believe that handing out crack pipes is somehow reducing harm?
The machine also dispenses female sanitation products, hygiene kits, Vitamin C, and first aid kits, among other items. While these items are helpful and necessary, it’s disturbing that they are being lumped in with drug paraphernalia and free drugs.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan says that every three hours a New Yorker dies from an overdose. While that is a tragedy, enabling drug use is not the answer. We need to find real solutions that address the root causes of addiction and provide effective treatment options.
New York City’s decision to install a vending machine that dispenses free crack pipes is an abomination. Taxpayers should be outraged that their hard-earned money is being used to enable drug use and put people’s lives at risk. We need to demand better from our public officials and find real solutions to address addiction and save lives.
