The first supervised injection web site within the Bay State could possibly be coming to Worcester after an area board backed opening a facility within the metropolis.
The Worcester Board of Health has unanimously voted to OK an overdose prevention heart pilot program.
Local well being officers and medical doctors have been pushing for supervised injection websites, saying the amenities would assist scale back opioid overdose deaths as drug fatalities proceed to stay elevated amid the unrelenting opioid epidemic.
Overdose prevention facilities, which have operated for many years in different international locations like Canada and Australia, are websites the place individuals can use medication beneath the supervision of skilled workers — who can administer overdose reversal remedy, also referred to as Narcan. No overdose demise has ever been reported at a sanctioned overdose prevention heart.
The Massachusetts Medical Society on Tuesday praised the Worcester Board of Health for its vote to authorize an overdose prevention heart pilot program.
The amenities are “a proven public health tool that will save the lives of those impacted by opioid use disorder, as well as increase access to health care services and facilitate pathways for treatment and recovery,” mentioned Massachusetts Medical Society president Barbara Spivak.
“We know that vast majority of Massachusetts residents support OPCs as a public health measure and hope more communities follow Worcester’s lead,” Spivak added. “We commend Worcester for advancing this important harm reduction intervention that will save lives and we will continue our longstanding advocacy in support of OPCs to ensure they can become a reality in more communities across the Commonwealth.”
Seventy p.c of Massachusetts voters help passing state laws to permit cities and cities to ascertain overdose prevention facilities, in line with a ballot launched final 12 months.
The Worcester Board of Health vote on Monday was to help piloting an overdose prevention heart, with state Department of Public Health approval.
“Ultimately, it’ll be up to the State to permit to pilot a site in Worcester. And DPH is in favor!” posted Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj.
“It does not seem, as long as Mass DPH allows, that city council approval is needed,” town councilor posted, additionally writing, “If State DPH gives green light for a pilot, there is a lot of work ahead. But, this is an incredible first step. And I hope CC will be fully behind it.”
A Massachusetts Department of Public Health report final 12 months discovered that overdose prevention facilities within the Bay State would assist minimize down on the variety of native opioid overdoses and deaths. This comes as DPH reported that greater than 2,300 overdose deaths occurred within the state throughout a latest one-year span.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”