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Date: 2/8/2023
SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic Sarno, Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi announced increased measures to holistically address opioid response during a Jan. 24 press conference at the Springfield Fire Department Headquarters.
Addressing increased opioid use is a central focus of Springfield leadership. In April 2022, Sarno announced a series of diverse initiatives to enhance and expand the city of Springfield’s opioid response and create systems in partnership with local nonprofits, health organizations and community stakeholders. The announcement highlighted the purchase of a specialized vehicle to enhance opioid related response for the Department of Health and Human Services and enhanced training and Narcan availability for the Police Department.
Springfield also continues to receive annual installments from the state’s opioid settlement agreement. The city will receive $7.2 million from the settlement, which will be distributed through annual payments until 2038.
During the Jan. 24 press conference, Sarno announced that the city is allocating $421,000 to advance and expand Springfield’s citywide opioid response initiatives. The funds derive from existing city funds from the fiscal year 2023 budget to cover the costs of implementing and expanding the various multifaceted local opioid programs.
“We have to continue to hit this head on … This will improve our ability to save more lives,” said Sarno.
Sarno shared that the Springfield Police Department will receive $94,470. A $36,660 portion of the funds will finance the purchase of 200 medical bags with 300 tourniquet kits for officers, while $41,070 will allow the department to acquire 30 automated external defibrillators with batteries and Narcan pouches.
Reflecting on the Narcan program, Clapprood said Narcan saved roughly 150 people last year and over 400 people since its inception. She stressed that the increased resources further the Police Department’s extensive efforts combating opioid use.
“We’re out there, we’re patrolling the city 24/7,” said Clapprood.
The Department of Health and Human Services is receiving $210,000 for the purchase of another mobile medical response vehicle. Caulton-Harris explained that the response vehicle will feature a “multi-disciplinary team” that will work with community organizations and throughout different neighborhoods.
“Our approach has to be one where we meet the community where they are at,” said Caulton-Harris. The mobile unit will be able to distribute Naloxone (of which Narcan is one brand name) to community partners.
The Fire Department was awarded $117,000 for the activation of two full-time TAC (tactical response) units to offer immediate response to opioid-related emergencies. One unit will be located at the department’s headquarters, while another will operate from the White Street Fire Station. Calvi said both units will improve the city’s response to opioid overdoses.
“Funding these two units will allow the Springfield Fire Department to more quickly respond to medical incidents and overdoses in our two most heavily affected areas for opioid overdoses in the city,” said Calvi.
Calvi also shared that the response teams represent the first expansion of services in over 50 years for the department. Previously, the TAC response units only had the resources to operate part-time.
With the funding announcements, Sarno reiterated the importance of enhancing the city’s opioid response efforts.
“This announcement continues my administration’s commitment to investing in the resources needed to tackle and respond to the opioid crisis … We are fully committed to saving lives and fighting to get this poison out of our neighborhoods,” said Sarno.
Additionally, Sarno will call upon Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll to pass legislation that will accelerate the city’s ability to utilize funds sourced from the opioid settlement agreement. Currently, all money received or collected from any source by a municipality belongs to its general fund and can only be spent after appropriation, according to the city’s press release.