Massachusetts cities and towns will get $700,000 to fight the opioid epidemic
The money will provide communities with naloxone, used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Massachusetts will disperse $700,000 to cities and towns to battle the opioid epidemic. The state funds will provide first responders with naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses.
According to the state’s Health and Human Services department, addiction to opioid painkillers is “the state’s greatest public health threat’’ and kills about four people each day.
The money will be divided among 31 “hot-spot communities,’’ said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito in a statement.
“There is no faster and more effective way to reverse an opioid overdose than to administer naloxone,’’ said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders in the statement. “It is imperative we do everything we can to counteract the epidemic of opioid addiction by providing as many first responders as possible the opportunity to use this life-saving medication.’’
The communities eligible to apply for the grant money had to have an average annual rate of 6 or more opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 residents and an average annual number of 4 or more opioid overdose deaths between 2009 and 2013.
The following communities will receive between $10,000 and $50,000: Barnstable, Beverly, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Somerville, Taunton, Westfield, Weymouth, Winthrop, Worcester, and Yarmouth.
The award amounts for each community were based on population.
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