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Date: 6/26/2023
NORTHAMPTON — The city of Northampton is continuing the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis through a new avenue thanks to money provided by the commonwealth.
During the City Council meeting on June 15, the council unanimously approved — through two readings — the creation of an Opioid Stabilization Fund that will house settlement money from a nationwide financial legal effort Massachusetts participated in, which demanded abatement of the harms caused by the opioid epidemic.
According to the order, Northampton will receive more than $2 million of settlement money over the next 15 years from several sources who are complicit in galvanizing the opioid crisis including places like Walmart, Teva, Allergan, CVS and Walgreens.
“Some of these funds we are getting, we are grateful for,” said Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra during the June 15 meeting. “But we recognize that they are part of a settlement due to real pain and suffering.”
So far, as of May 31, the city has acquired $239,024 from two of the several sources part of the settlement. The city will receive the rest of the money over the next 15 years, and according to Sciarra, the city determined that a stabilization fund is the best way to hold these payments.
Merridith O’Leary, the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, said during the meeting that the funds will be used based on the needs that the community expresses.
Specifically, the DHHS plans to conduct surveys, focus groups and listening sessions with people who use drugs, as well as their family and loved ones to help guide how the city develops strategies aimed to help those most impacted by the opioid epidemic.
O’Leary told the council that the state’s Attorney General’s office wants municipalities to address service disparities by increasing access to treatment and equity, prevention and harm reduction in relation to opiates; and leveraging existing city, state and town mental health disorder, opiate use disorder and behavior health disorder programming and services. The hope is that this money will address those issues.
“The DHHS has not set parameters yet for how these funds are going to be spent, as we have not yet heard from those most affected,” O’Leary said. “We will incorporate explicit focus and strategies that address service disparities to increase access and equity and treatment and services for those with opioid use disorder and ensure robust prevention and harm reduction efforts relating to opiates.”
The goal now is to utilize those efforts and connect with community stakeholders to determine where the gaps lie in this fight and how the money will be used. After a six-month process, the DHHS will return to the City Council with a more concrete plan for the settlement money.
“We are also providing support to the communities in Hampshire County to help collect their voices as well and help him use the funds property within the parameters and based off of community needs,” O’Leary said. “It is our plan to listen to the community…and formulate a strategic plan.”
The council passed the order through a “waiver of process,” which allowed the municipal body to advance the vote with two readings that night instead of just one.
“I think this is something that’s really excellent, and I have to agree with a stabilization fund to be created,” said Councilor Marianne LaBarge.