BOSTON – On Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate passed Senate bill 2609, which provides additional resources to fight the opioid crises affecting the Commonwealth.
Among the provisions included in the bill are increasing access to medication assisted treatment, exploring tools to reduce harm and save lives, expanding prevention and education efforts, and addressing the high rates of co-occuring conditions of substance use disorder and mental illness.
In a statement, State Senator Julian Cyr says the bill, An Act for prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction, is the result of extensive work researching evidence based best practices and collaborating with healthcare researchers and clinicians, hospitals, behavioral health providers, law enforcement officials, patient advocates and individuals with life experience to develop policies to address the crisis.
The bill also creates a Substance Use Prevention, education and Screening Trust Fund. The Fund will help finance the expansion of school based programs that educate children and young persons on alcohol and substance misuse and that identify and support children and young persons at risk of alcohol or substance misuse.
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