Over the past ten years opioid overdoses have increased significantly in Massachusetts. Opioids include heroin and prescription drugs such as oxycodone (oxycontin), fentanyl, hydrocodone, codeine, and methadone. In response to this growing problem, the Department of Public Health has implemented a number of projects to reduce the number of overdoses. ( More information about Drug Overdoses and Poisoning)

Intra-Nasal Naloxone Distribution Pilot Program

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, codeine, and methadone. In response to the increasing number of opioid-related fatal overdoses in Massachusetts in the past decade, the Department of Public Health is sponsoring a pilot program that is distributing intra-nasal naloxone (Narcan©), along with opioid overdose prevention education, to opioid users and to trusted people in their lives such as family, friends, and staff of human services programs.

Emergency responders including paramedics and emergency room physicians have been using naloxone since the 1970's to revive people who are experiencing an opioid overdose. Many programs nationally, and now here in Massachusetts have been making this life-saving medication available to people who are most likely to witness an overdose.

Read this Information Sheet for more information on the program and where to get naloxone pdf format of Naloxone Info rtf format of Naloxone Info

MassCALL II (an initiative to reduce opioid overdoses)

The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) received a federal grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to identify the most significant consequences of substance use and to reduce the incidence in the state. After a thorough review of the data, fatal and non-fatal opioid related overdose was selected as the consequence of focus and among substance abuse issues of greatest concern in the Commonwealth.

With funds from MassCALL II, BSAS has awarded grants to 15 high-incidence communities in Massachusetts to do community needs assessments to understand that opioid overdose problem in their area, and to implement evidence-based strategies to address the problem. The goal is to reduce the incidence of fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses in each funded community.

List of Funded Communities (PDF) pdf format of masscall2-contact-list.pdf rtf format of masscall2-contact-list.rtf

Community Profiles

Free Educational Materials

Educational materials on Opioid Overdose Prevention are available for free from the Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse: www.maclearinghouse.org

  • Four Tales of Overdose Survival: Rescues from Near-Fatal Encounters with Heroin, OxyContin, and Other Opiates novella - catalog #SA1069   RTF rtf format of opiod-overdose-novella-transcript.rtf
  • "Know the Signs of Overdose" fold out wallet card - catalog #SA1067
  • Conozca los signos de una sobredosis pdf format of Conozca los signos de una sobredosis rtf format of Conozca los signos de una sobredosis
    "An overdose is a medical emergency" magnet - catalog #SA1068
  • "Opioid Analgesics and Stimulant Medications: A Clinician Guide to Prevent Misuse" - catalog #SA1038

 

This information is provided by the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services within the Department of Public Health.