Boston is stepping up its fight against opioids. Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission just announced $1 million in grants for community groups working to prevent overdoses and improve substance use treatment. This funding targets neighborhoods like Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, Roxbury, and the South End, where overdose rates are rising, especially among Black and Latinx men, according to a release from the City of Boston.
"Too many families have lost loved ones to the opioid epidemic here in Boston," Mayor Wu said in a statement by the City of Boston news release. With overdose rates climbing by 29% among Black individuals and 9% among Latinx from 2021-2022, the funds are seen as a vital lifeline. The financial support comes in the wake of local and state efforts to quash an epidemic that has left deep scars on the city's urban tapestry. Community groups can request up to $200,000 and have three years to allocate the resources.
Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the BPHC, highlighted the stark reality that opioid overdose deaths have not just casually, but disproportionately plagued Black and Latinx communities across Boston. "We know naloxone saves lives, but access to it is limited and disparities exist in utilization and uptake," Dr. Ojikutu emphasized, according to the City of Boston news release. This rollout aims to enhance access to this life-saving drug, ensuring that residents are educated on how to spot an overdose and, crucially, respond in time.
The city had also previously announced leveraging opioid remediation funds to cushion the blow for families shattered by overdose tragedies, materializing in the form of a Family Overdose Support Fund. The fund is prepared to endow $250,000 annually to assist approximately 50 families grappling with loss, with a vendor set to commence distribution this summer. Part and parcel of Boston's broader strategy includes housing support and establishing low-barrier housing options for those in the throes of substance use disorder—a venture that's already forged paths to permanent housing solutions for many.
Boston stands to gradually reel in upwards of $22 million through 2038 from the State’s opioid settlements after years of litigation, including a formidable lawsuit brought by the city against major drug manufacturers and distributors. These settlements are part of nearly a billion dollars earmarked for Massachusetts over the next 18 years, a testament to the legal prowess and resolve of then-Attorney General Maura Healey and her team.
