Dane County Deploys Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Sun Prairie and Stoughton

October 13, 2026
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive

SUN PRAIRIE – Dane County is expanding access to life-saving Naloxone and other resources, with the addition of harm reduction vending machines in Sun Prairie and Stoughton. Dane County Executive Melissa Agard on Tuesday joined representatives from Sunshine Place in Sun Prairie and Stoughton Health to unveil the new machines.

 

“We are proud to be expanding this life-saving initiative that has already helped distribute thousands of harm reduction items to people through other locations in Madison,” said County Executive Agard. “This ongoing initiative seeks to reduce the stigma for people who use drugs and their loved ones seeking access to Naloxone, which can help save a life.”

 

The new machines are located outside the Sunshine Place community resource hub in Sun Prairie (18 Rickel Rd, Sun Prairie, WI) and the Stoughton Health emergency department entrance (900 Ridge St., Stoughton, WI). They are stocked with doses of Naloxone, which can help reverse an opiate overdose, along with other harm reduction and personal care items. 

 

“We are grateful to host this resource on our campus and appreciate Dane County’s efforts to make these supplies available,” said Ann Maastricht, Executive Director of Sunshine Place.” Our goal is to bring resources together in one place to better serve our neighbors, and this is a valuable addition to that work.”

 

“We are pleased to be expanding this initiative outside of Madison and joining the Madison Hospitals to save lives,” said Tony Ketterer, Environment of Care Manager at Stoughton Health. 

 

The new machines join two others already in service in Madison that are maintained by Dane County Emergency Management (DCEM), along with three additional machines maintained by other agencies. Harm Reduction Vending Machines outside of the UW Hospital emergency department and St. Mary’s Hospital have helped distribute nearly 1,200 packages of Naloxone since April of 2025. 

 

The sites in Sun Prairie and Stoughton were selected following a review of opiate overdose data by DCEM’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, along with examining existing access to harm reduction resources in those areas.

“While many harm reduction resources are available in Madison, we wanted to examine the surrounding municipalities to ensure their needs were not being overshadowed,” said Dane County Emergency Management Director Charles Tubbs. “That analysis showed increases in the number of suspected overdose responses by EMS in certain parts of each city.”

 

“Selecting Sunshine Place connects the machine in Sun Prairie with an organization that’s already active in meeting the basic needs of their community.  This location provides ease of access via bus or interstate while meeting individuals where they are,” said Dane County Opiate Settlement Coordinator Felicia Behnke Shaw. “Stoughton Hospital brings in many individuals through various levels of care; therefore, placing the vending machine here has a larger impact by reaching more community members of Dane County.”

 

All four of Dane County’s Harm Reduction Vending Machines are maintained by opiate settlement funded staff, who also work with local partners to help keep them supplied with items such as feminine hygiene products and gun locks. The new machines were purchased using County Opiate Settlement Funds.

 

Learn more about Harm Reduction programs in Dane County:
 
 Overdose Prevention | Dane County Emergency Management

Substance Use Prevention | Public Health Madison & Dane County