Hardware

Canadian tech company introduces opioid dispenser kiosk

August 14, 2020

Dispension, a Dartmouth, Canada-based provider of an integrated platform that combines software, biometrics and tamper-resistant hardware, has developed a verified identity kiosk to dispense regulated opioid products, according to a press release.

Dispension's device, which is similar to an ATM, was used in the pilot MySafe Project, in December 2019, in Vancouver's downtown. MySafe, the company's first opioid dispensing kiosk helps combat the opioid overdose crisis through a safe drug supply harm reduction program.

The kiosk is equipped with biometric palm vein scanning technology that enables accurate verification of a registered user's identity before allowing them access to the regulated products. Connecting transactions to a specific user not only ensures the security of supply, it also allows for real-time feedback and provides data for scientific and medical research.

Darren Fisher, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Health and a member of Parliament for Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, announced $500,000 in repayable support to Dispension, which has dispensed over 3,750 packets of narcotics since its launch in December 2019.

Five MySafe kiosks are planned for deployment in mid-August in Dartmouth, London, Vancouver and Victoria.

Photo courtesy of Dispension.