Peer-reviewed article
Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Supportive Housing for Veterans.
Rife-Pennington T, Douglas MP, Apana NK, Sinha S, Pennington DL ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines how harm reduction vending machines (devices dispensing health and harm reduction supplies) are perceived by veteran residents and staff in supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans in California. Veterans and staff reported benefits including easier access to supplies, improved safety and health behaviors, and positive community effects. Concerns were raised about stigma, privacy, and whether the machines might enable substance use.
Key points
- 60 participants (44 veterans, 16 staff) across 6 California housing buildings were interviewed about harm reduction vending machines
- Veterans reported around-the-clock, no-cost access to harm reduction, sexual health, hygiene, and wellness supplies
- Perceived benefits included safer substance use practices, sexual health prevention, improved self-care, and increased comfort
- No increase in visible disorder or safety concerns was reported by residents or staff
- Key concerns included stigma around using machines, privacy issues, perception of enabling substance use, and placement near children
Limitations
This is a qualitative study based on perceived impacts and perspectives rather than measured health or behavioral outcomes. The study cannot establish whether the vending machines actually changed substance use practices, health outcomes, or housing stability, only what participants thought about them.
Abstract
Importance Harm reduction vending machines (HRVMs) are an evidence-based strategy to provide low-barrier access to harm reduction and health supplies; however, little is known about their perceived impacts in permanent supportive housing for US veterans. Objective To evaluate veteran and staff perspectives on the perceived impacts and concerns associated with HRVMs deployed in permanent supportive housing buildings. Design, setting, and participants This qualitative study consisted of semistructured interviews with veteran residents who had formerly experienced homelessness and on-site staff in 6 California-based permanent supportive housing buildings from August through December 2024. Purposive sampling was used to recruit diverse participants across 6 housing buildings. Exposure HRVMs stocked with standardized harm reduction, sexual health, hygiene, and wellness supplies and colocated in supportive housing buildings for at least 5 months. Main outcomes and measures Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results A total of 60 participants completed interviews (44 veterans and 16 staff); 14 staff completed the demographic survey. Veterans had a mean (SD) age of 62.1 (14.8) years, and 40 (90.9%) were men; staff survey respondents had a mean (SD) age 44.9 (7.8) years, and 9 (64.3%) were men. Interviews lasted a mean (range) of 37 (12-78) minutes. Three overarching impact themes comprising 9 subthemes were identified: (1) expanded access to harm reduction resources, including around-the-clock, no-cost access and staff-supported resource navigation; (2) safety, health, and well-being, including safer substance use, sexual health prevention, self-care, and improved comfort and peace of mind; and (3) community conditions, social support, and normalization, including peer and family support, normalized HRVM use, and no perceived increase in visible disorder or safety concerns. Three cross-cutting concerns involved stigma and privacy when accessing HRVMs, perceptions of enabling substance use, and placement around children. Conclusions and relevance In this qualitative study, veterans and staff described HRVMs in supportive housing as acceptable and supported perceived benefits across access, safety and health behaviors, and community conditions, while highlighting concerns about stigma, placement, and enabling substance use. Future studies should evaluate downstream clinical, service engagement, and housing outcomes.