Last week, the Patrick Administration and the Department of Public Health (DPH) announced grant awards to 23 communities across Massachusetts, including Somerville, to help first responders save lives by providing funding for opioid overdose response training and naloxone (Narcan) units that can be used to reverse overdoses. Police and fire departments in communities with high incidences of fatal opioid overdoses will share in over $600,000 in funding under the pilot program, which was included in the FY2015 budget.

The number of overdose reversals under the DPH Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program have increased dramatically since Governor Patrick declared a public health emergency in earlier this year, and made naloxone more widely available to first responders and bystanders. Additionally, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a substance abuse recovery bill in May 2014 that increases opportunities for long-term substance abuse recovery by supporting a wide range of care and removing barriers that stand in the way of effective treatment.