Cambridge Evaluates Launch of Overdose Prevention Centers
TL/DR –
Cambridge City Council has unanimously agreed to back state legislation to legalize overdose prevention centers (OPCs) throughout Massachusetts. The state House and Senate are discussing the possibility of OPCs where drugs can be taken under supervision to try and reduce the 25,000+ overdose deaths in the state since 2000. The city has seen 80 drug overdoses from 2019 to 2022, but the policy order emphasizes that OPCs are a proven method of harm reduction and no overdoses have ever occurred at an OPC in the 30 years these facilities have existed.
Cambridge City Council Support for Overdose Prevention Centers
The Cambridge City Council unanimously embraced a policy to support the legalization of overdose prevention centers (OPCs) in Massachusetts on Monday. The council also asked City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 to gauge the city’s openness towards hosting an OPC.
Legislation for OPC development is being considered in the Massachusetts State House and Senate. These facilities provide a controlled environment for people to consume their pre-obtained drugs under healthcare professional supervision. This legislation aims to address the over 25,000 drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts since 2000.
Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern, a policy order sponsor, initiated the discussion by introducing an amendment. This modified the language to enable Cambridge to initiate discussions about OPCs with community stakeholders instead of committing to the facilities’ development.
McGovern’s interest in OPCs was driven by personal experiences. He cited the loss of two close individuals to drug overdoses from February to April of the current year. Based on Cambridge’s most recent data, there were 80 drug overdoses from 2019 to 2022. McGovern commented on the lack of public outcry on the issue.
OPCs have been operational for years in Canada, Australia, and Europe, but have been divisive in the US. Currently, similar policies are only being implemented in Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health endorsed OPCs as an “evidence-based, valuable harm reduction service” in December.
Cambridge resident and Massachusetts General Hospital physician Emily Tixier voiced her support for OPCs. She highlighted their proven effectiveness in preventing overdose deaths. Further support was given by Charles J. Franklin, a former City Council candidate whose cousin died from a drug overdose in 2019.
McGovern reassured citizens that the city wouldn’t need to use tax revenue for funding these centers. Funding would come from the millions of dollars collected by Massachusetts from opioid distributors like Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. The state has collected $106 million since 2021.
McGovern declared his commitment to keeping those struggling with substance use addiction alive, disregarding critics who called his efforts a crusade.
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