Public health infrastructure in Ocean County just expanded around the clock. A new partnership between the Prevention Resource Network (PRN) and the Suburban Health Clinic has launched Ocean County’s very first harm reduction vending machine, providing free, anonymous, and continuous access to lifesaving supplies in Toms River.
Installed outside the Suburban Health Clinic, the vending machine offers 24/7 access to naloxone (Narcan), sterile syringes, safer smoking kits, adulterant test strips, wound care supplies, sharps containers, and condoms. A dedicated syringe return kiosk is positioned directly beside the machine to facilitate safe, round-the-clock disposal.
Following a soft launch on July 20, the machine’s initial seven-day distribution numbers highlighted an immediate, critical demand for accessible resources. In just its first week, local participants utilized the machine to receive 110 syringes, 39 safer smoking kits, and 8 wound care kits, alongside numerous test strips, naloxone units, and safety supplies.
The project builds upon an established weekly collaboration between PRN—a program of the Children & Family Health Institute at VNA Health Group—and Suburban Health Clinic, where PRN counselors regularly provide on-site outreach. The new vending machine bridges the gap outside of standard operating hours.
“This innovative harm reduction approach will not only directly affect individuals who use substances, but it will also improve the overall health of families and communities,” Shannon Preston, director of HIV Community Services at VNA Health Group, said.
The initiative mirrors the success of PRN’s pilot harm reduction vending machine launched in Asbury Park in April 2025. Between its launch and June 2026, the Asbury Park machine distributed over 50,000 vital supplies—with heavy usage occurring between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., underscoring the necessity of after-hours access.
Suburban Health Clinic, which specializes in evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder through medication-assisted therapy like methadone and buprenorphine, views the machine as a vital complement to clinical care.
“Addiction is a chronic medical illness, not a moral failing,” Anthony Scrofine, director of Nursing at Suburban Health Clinic, said. “Harm reduction meets people where they are, while medications like methadone help them move toward long-term recovery when they are ready. These approaches are not opposites; they are complementary tools that save lives.”
Beyond the Toms River installation, PRN continues to support communities across Monmouth and Ocean counties through 16 mobile outreach locations, pairing supplies with education, health screenings, and direct connections to local medical care.
