Community Naloxone Program (CNP)

The CNP allows eligible programs in Massachusetts to obtain naloxone from the Department of Public Health.

Purpose

The CNP is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) program established in 2022 that aims to prevent death from opioid overdose by increasing distribution of naloxone to community bystanders across Massachusetts.   Organizations that qualify for CNP can order naloxone nasal spray at a partial or full subsidy directly from the State Office of Pharmacy Services (SOPS), depending on preference.  This program allows for participating organizations and agencies to benefit from the state negotiated public interest pricing for naloxone available to the state. Four milligram naloxone nasal spray is an Over the Counter (OTC) drug, therefore no further medication registrations are needed to order naloxone through CNP once onboarded. 

All “affiliate programs” of the CNP are expected to provide counseling on overdose prevention and training on overdose response to all persons who receive CNP-obtained naloxone. CNP-obtained naloxone is not to be billed to a patient’s insurance or resold.  

Program Requirements and Eligibility

1. Application to the CNP is open to the following entities in Massachusetts: 
   1. Health and Human Services programs serving people at risk for opioid overdose and/or their social networks 
   2. Housing and homeless providers 
   3. Municipal health departments 
   4. Drop-in centers or other community spaces 
   5. Family support services 
   6. Peer recovery support programs (non-clinical and not licensed) 
   7. EMS Naloxone Leave-Behind Programs 
   8. Mutual aid organizations  
   9. Municipal boards of health or health departments 
   10. Universities and colleges 
   11. Community outreach or distribution program affiliated with a health or substance use disorder treatment program  
   12. Other entities may be eligible on a case-by-case basis if operating a community distribution program 
2. Entities that are not eligible for the CNP: 
   1. Municipal Police, Fire, and EMS Departments 
   2. K-12 schools 
   3. EMS for emergency response 
   4. State Offices of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
   5. Pharmacies 
   6. The following entities are only eligible for off-site community distribution and outreach programming and may not provide CNP naloxone to patients/clients or to stock on site for emergency response purposes.  
      1. Hospitals 
      2. Health centers 
      3. Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) 
      4. Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) licensed behavioral health programs 
      5. DMH licensed programs 
      6. Substance use disorder treatment programs (including OBATs and OTPs) 
3. Affiliate programs must comply with all Massachusetts General Laws and regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in accordance with 105 CMR 700.00  
4. Affiliate programs must establish written protocols and procedures to ensure that individuals receiving naloxone kits are properly trained. Training must meet minimum standards outlined at 105 CMR 700.00  
5. CNP-obtained naloxone must:   
   1. Be provided to all recipients at no cost; AND  
   2. Not be submitted to any recipient’s insurance for reimbursement; AND  
   3. Not be resold
6. Affiliate programs must designate one staff member as the CNP Coordinator. This person will be the main point of contact with DPH and will take responsibility for required program activities and documentation, and data tracking and reporting. Programs must notify DPH promptly of any program personnel changes in a timely manner.    
7. Affiliate programs must provide DPH with all locations where naloxone ordered from CNP is to be delivered. Programs must notify DPH promptly of any location changes in a timely manner.  
8. Affiliate programs must track and report data to DPH. The frequency of reporting will be determined by the type of subsidy the affiliate program is awarded, which will be communicated by DPH to the approved affiliate program. Reports to DPH will include, but may not be limited to, the following metrics:  
   1. Number of naloxone doses distributed  
   2. Number of individual naloxone distribution encounters 
   3. Number of overdose reversals reported back to programs 
   4. Approximate number of fentanyl test strip (FTS) distributed 

Apply

To apply to become a CNP affiliate program, please fill out the online application. For questions about applying for CNP, please contact Benjamin Plant at [e-mail].