Codman Square Health CEO Dr. Guy Fish cut the ribbon on the new vending machine as part of International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 at Codman Square Health Center. Seth Daniel photos
The Codman Square Health Center commemorated International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 with a ceremony at a newly installed vending machine outside its facility on Washington Street that dispenses free items such as Naloxone (known as Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal nasal spray), hygiene kits, socks, snacks, and water to those who might need them.
A partnership between Codman Health, Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and the state Department of Public Health (DPH), has placed one of a few such vending machines in Boston. Among those on hand were Codman Director Dr. Guy Fish, state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein, and BPHC Director Dr. Bisola Ojikutu.
Codman CEO Dr. Guy Fish, CSNC President Cynthia Loesch-Johnson, Codman Board Member Bobby MacEachern, state DPH Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein, and BPHC Director Dr. Bisola Ojikutu.
Goldstein noted that 2025 was the first year when the state saw fewer than 1,000 deaths from opiate overdoses after hitting a high of 2,300 in 2022. The 02124 zip code in Dorchester continues to be one of the hardest hit areas of the city.
“It may seem inappropriate to celebrate something like this on a day of solemn remembrance,” Goldstein said. “But this is about turning remembrance into resolve and turning resolve into action…By having this here, we know we’re doing everything we can to prevent another loss.
Ursel Hughes, who helped champion the placement of the vending machine for Codman Square Health.
“Sometimes innovation is simply recognizing that people need help on their own terms and not on our terms – and this is low barrier access that accomplishes that.”
Jeannie Baca, of the Codman Behavioral Health Department, carries Narcan in her purse in case someone else might need it – and on the way to work in the last year, she administered it to a stranger and potentially save his life.
“This neighbor had no pulse, so we began CPR (after administering Naloxone) and I am so grateful that by the time the ambulance arrived he had regained his pulse,” she said. “I’m confident that by carrying bystander Naloxone, it helped save his life.”
Added Cynthia Loesch-Johnson, president of the Codman Square Neighborhood Council: “This machine is actually saving lives in real time.”
Codman Health officials said that after one month of operation, 144 doses of Naloxone, 500 snacks, 355 waters, and 352 hygiene kits had been dispensed.
