The world's first drug dispenser installed

In 2016, Canada experienced an opioid crisis that resulted in massive deaths. The point is then

fentanyl and carfentanil appeared on the black market- powerful opioid painkillers. In an attempt to solve the problem, Vancouver authorities installed a machine to dispense safe doses of hydromorphone, a morphine derivative that can be a substitute for dangerous substances for drug users.

Only drug users officially registered with the Vancouver health system can use the machine. It works from 8 am to 8 pm.

The machine identifies the client by the palm of his hand: The scanner is able to read the vein pattern. After verification, the device issues tablets with hydromorphone. As the focus groups showed, each drug user needs 10-16 tablets per day.

“The math is simple. Deadly fentanyl is on one side of the scale, and a well-known pharmaceutical dosage is on the other. A person who takes a pre-calculated dose will not have an overdose, ”said the project manager.