Customer Experience

Safety product kiosks get more use than expected in Canada

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April 30, 2021

Safety product kiosks in Moncton and Sackville, towns in New Brunswick, Canada, are being used more than expected, which staff at Ensemble Moncton, a social service organization, sees as a sign that the kiosks are serving the intended purpose, according to a CBS News report. The machines offer condoms, meth pipes, masks, syringes, disposable gloves and snacks for free.

Ensemble Moncton installed the machines during the pandemic since it was harder to reach people in need of such items after the offices closed in the spring of 2020.

One bullet-proof, climate-controlled machine was installed in the Sackville United Church in March, while Moncton's was installed in December.

The Sackville machine receives on average five visits a day. A pack containing a mask and sanitizer was the most requested item, followed by disposable gloves.

The most popular items taken from the Moncton machine, which experienced much more use, were meth pipes, followed by short tipped, then long tipped needles.

For an update on the coronavirus pandemic impact on kiosks, click here.