Senate Acts to Mitigate Massachusetts Opioid Crisis
Legislation expands harm reduction programs, sober home resources, access to naloxone
(BOSTON—7/30/2024) Today the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation expanding support for residents coping with substance use disorder to stem the toll of an opioid crisis that takes thousands of lives each year.
S.2898, An Act relative to accessing harm reduction initiatives, enables cities and towns to establish a wide range of measures proven to reduce the harms of drug use, including needle exchange programs, drug screenings, and overdose prevention facilities. It makes strides in studying sober home oversight and resources to support those in recovery, and widely expands access to overdose reversal drugs like naloxone.
“A single overdose in Massachusetts is one too many,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Opioids have stolen life from parents, children, siblings, and friends. The legislation approved by the Senate today makes powerful strides towards mitigating this crisis by helping those coping with substance use disorder reduce harm, find treatment, and achieve recovery that lasts a lifetime. I am grateful for the work of Chair Rodrigues, Senator Cyr, and Senator Velis, on this legislation that will save lives.”
“The substance abuse epidemic in Massachusetts has been going on for far too long now,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I’m pleased the Senate has addressed this issue head on. This comprehensive bill puts a strong focus on overdose prevention, harm reduction, and proven opioid recovery programs. The bill also wisely emphasizes the importance of structured peer support programs that provide ongoing mentorship and resources for lasting substance abuse recovery services. People afflicted by substance use disorders desperately need our help and this legislation will do just that, and more.”
“With the fentanyl crisis and polysubstance epidemic continuing unabated, we cannot count out any evidence-based intervention that has the potential to save lives,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), Assistant Majority Whip and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. “Every year for the last eight years, more than 2,000 of our neighbors and loved ones have died from an overdose. The provisions in this bill—including overdose prevention centers via local approval—are among proven harm reduction tools that we can deploy now to arrest overdose deaths and end the opioid epidemic. I am proud that the Senate took decisive action on this issue, and I am grateful to my colleagues for their endorsement of these lifesaving policies.”
“The unfortunate truth is most people in our Commonwealth know someone who is struggling or has struggled with addiction, and it is absolutely heartbreaking how many loved ones we continue to lose to this disease,” said Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. “At the most fundamental level this bill is about keeping people alive until they are ready to begin recovery and supporting all those in their recovery journey. In addition to increasing access to overdose reversal tools like Narcan and expanding harm reduction programs throughout the Commonwealth, the legislation passed by the Senate today establishes a comprehensive licensure process for recovery coaches that will provide better oversight for the profession and expand access to these truly vital providers. I am incredibly grateful to the Senate President, Chair Rodrigues, and all of my Senate colleagues for their collective work on this legislation that will truly help save lives in Massachusetts and support individuals with substance use disorders throughout their recovery.”
The bill allows cities and towns to opt in to a number of new harm reduction programs. Those programs include:
Needle exchange programs
Primary care services, including disease prevention and health screenings
Access to, or referrals for, evidence-based treatment options
Drug testing services
Overdose reversal care
Supervision of individuals who consume pre-obtained substances
Programs that provide overdose reversal care and supervision of individuals who consume pre-obtained substances would require approval by the local board of health, select board or city council, and the state Department of Public Health (DPH). Participants and administrators of harm reduction programs would be granted limited liability protections.
To further support individuals in recovery, the Senate’s bill mandates DPH to conduct a study on sober homes in the Commonwealth, focusing on the safety and recovery of sober home residents. The study would examine and make recommendations for improving training for operators and staff, creating safe recovery environments, overseeing sober homes, and creating licensure programs for counselors and recovery coaches.
The bill creates licensure programs for alcohol and drug counselors and recovery coaches, which would be administered by DPH. Additionally, it requires the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to study and report on barriers to certification, credentialing, and other employment and practice requirements for recovery coaches.
To increase and expand access to opioid reversal treatments like Narcan, the bill would:
Require health insurance plans to cover opioid overdose reversal drugs without cost-sharing or prior authorization.
Mandate pharmacies in areas with high incidences of overdose to maintain a continuous supply of opioid overdose reversal drugs and notify DPH if the supply is insufficient.
Require substance use disorder treatment facilities to educate on and dispense at least two doses of opioid overdose reversal drugs to individuals upon discharge.
Mandate hospitals to educate on and prescribe or dispense at least two doses of opioid overdose reversal drugs to individuals with a history of opioid use or opioid use disorder upon discharge.
A previous version of this bill having passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills, before sending a final version to the Governor’s desk.
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