Ward One Alderman Matthew McLaughlin urged the Board to pass the proposal to support SOA’s recommendations for opiate addiction treatment and prevention.

By Jim Clark

A proposal sponsored by Ward One Alderman Matthew McLaughlin and Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti that the Somerville Board of Alderman support the proposals of Somerville Overcoming Addiction regarding opiate abuse was approved at the last regular meeting of the Board on Dec. 11.

The proposals put forward by SOA include: bringing a detox/recovery center to Somerville; the possibility of a recovery High School in Somerville, similar to other Commonwealth programs; that city officials should receive text message updates on overdoses, similar to other emergency texts; and bringing back the opiate task force, with a focus on prevention and rehabilitation as opposed to prosecution.

Additionally, the promotion of Good Samaritan laws is proposed, which will encourage residents to report overdoses, as well as incorporation of Good Samaritan public awareness programs to educate residents and police of the importance.

Cooperation with pharmacies to encourage drug take back bins would help to take excess medications off the street, according to the findings of the Aldermen sponsors. Also, it has been proposed that local pharmacies should be encouraged to stock Narcan and make available without a prescription. Working with pharmacies to ensure they are participating in the prescription monitoring program was also mention as a desirable addition to the proposed efforts discussed.

City participation in Red Ribbon Week is also advised, as is encouraging Somerville schools to have monthly guest speakers on substance abuse related activity.

The city should implement a guidance/employment center targeting 18 to 25 year olds, according to the SOA recommendations, including a prison reentry program for newly released residents.

Better outreach from the office of prevention to support community volunteers is also an important component of the proposed program. Staffing the office of prevention with at least one person that is in long term recovery to provide outreach to at risk communities is also seen as a highly desirable goal.

According to SOA recommendations, the office of prevention should do greater outreach and hire youth organizers who are more closely connected to drug problems in the city.

It was also suggested that the city of Somerville should also help SOA with the process of non-profit status, similar to the boxing and football programs.

Alderman McLaughlin and Alderman At Large Rossetti have been working with SOA over the past 8 months, attending meetings and going over the fine points of the proposals that were submitted to the Board last week.

The approval of support for the SOA proposals will help bolster the efforts of the organization in its mission to find better solutions for dealing with opiate addiction within the community, according to the aldermen.