WYOMISSING, Pa. — Jennifer Murphy, associate professor of criminal justice and chair of the criminal justice program at Penn State Berks, was part of a panel that discussed harm reduction strategies as a response to the opioid crisis on "Feedback with Bill Saunders" on WEEU News Talk 830-AM, a commercial radio station in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 18. 

Murphy was joined by two members of the Berks County's Council on Chemical Abuse: Yvonne Stroman, community programs specialist, and Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz, director of planning and resource development. 

The three panelists discussed the plan to implement “smart” vending machines in Berks County, which would dispense naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other wellness items for free later this fall. The vending machines will also connect individuals to treatment and services to help reduce the toll of opioid overdose, unplanned pregnancy, or sexually transmitted and other infections, including HIV and COVID-19. This project is funded by the Penn State College of Medicine’s Comprehensive Health Studies Program. 

Murphy’s research interests are in drug policy and the stigma of addiction. She is currently working on a project to educate police officers about addiction issues and treatment so that they can be better prepared to implement diversion programs that link people to treatment in lieu of arrest.  She teaches courses on drugs and drug policy, in which she has taken students to foreign countries (including the Netherlands and Portugal) to study drug policy and how governments respond to drug crises. 

For more information, contact Murphy at JXM1192@psu.edu.