Toolkit for Authorizing OPC / SCS in MA
Support Overdose Prevention Centers & Save Lives!
12,794 people in MA have died of preventable overdose since OPC / SCS legislation was initially introduced in 2017.
We are anticipating MA DPH to release data showing fatal and non-fatal overdose deaths on Wednesday December 13, 2023. On June 22, 2023 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released preliminary data that shows 2,357 people in MA died of preventable opioid-related overdose in 2022. This is a 9% increase from the 2,300 lives lost to preventable overdose death in 2021. These numbers show overdose deaths among Black people who use drugs rose 42% - more evidence that the war on drugs is a war on Black and Brown people. The data also shows that 520 people in MA died of preventable overdose from January - March of 2023 - that is SIX people EVERY DAY. In contrast, ZERO people have died at an overdose prevention center (OPC). Regardless of what tomorrow’s data shows, every life is precious and one life is too many. Every day that passes without establishing OPC in MA guarantees that more people will die of preventable overdose death.
The first OPC legislation was introduced in 2017 and there have been several Committee Hearings where there has been overwhelming support and evidence shared in favor of OPC. And yet, OPC is still not authorized in MA. On January 20, OPC legislation was re-filed in the House (H.1981 An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment) and Senate (S.1242). On October 23, 2023 the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery who held a hearing on OPC where there was overwhelming evidence and testimony and near unanimous support for OPC from people who use(d) drugs, parents who have lost children to preventable overdose deaths, providers, elected and appointed officials, researchers, harm reductionists and advocates.
Although there is increased support among legislators for OPC, these bills are still sitting in committee. We cannot afford to wait for these bills to go through another lengthy legislative process. We need to share support for OPC and demand the chairs move the legislation favorably out of their committee and allow it move through the legislative process as soon as possible. Every overdose death is a policy failure and choice. For six years elected leadership has chosen to ignore evidence and demand for OPC causing more people in MA to die of preventable overdose death. Share your support with the Committee, and demand the legislature pass OPC legislation to save lives now!
There is NO need to further explore OPC. Evidence overwhelmingly supports overdose prevention centers - SIFMA Now! has given binders containing 104 peer-reviewed studies sharing efficacy of OPC with the Committee in past years (and will again at the hearing), neighboring Rhode Island and New York City have already opened OPCs, and the City of Somerville conducted their own needs assessment and feasibility study in 2021. Further authorizing OPC aligns with the March 2019 State of MA Harm Reduction Commission’s recommendation of opening at least one such facility in the Commonwealth as a response to the overdose crisis. Demand the Committee say say #YestoSCS by moving the legislation out of Committee to authorize OPC to save lives NOW!
TAKE ACTION!
We are asking you to send two emails TODAY to demand electeds show true leadership to authorize this evidence-based solution to save lives now - people’s lives depend on it!
EMAIL 2: YOUR LEGISLATORS, MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE USE & RECOVERY COMMITTEE CHAIRS & LEADERSHIP 5
“I SUPPORT OPC BECAUSE…” SIGN 9
TOOLKIT LINK: https://bit.ly/SIFMANowOPCToolkit
WHO WE ARE
SIFMA Now! has been advocating for the opening of overdose prevention centers, also known as supervised consumption sites (SCS) or supervised injection facilities (SIF), since 2016. We are a grassroots coalition of people who use drugs, harm reductionists, healthcare professionals, attorneys, researchers, students (medical, public health, legal), family members, and community members. We know that only an evidence-based, public-health, and harm reduction approach will stem the tide of preventable overdose deaths. OPC are proven to save lives by establishing safe places for people to use pre-obtained drugs with the safety and support of trained peers and healthcare providers.
Have questions or want to get involved?
Email us: SIFMANOW@gmail.com
DM us on Twitter @SIFMA_NOW
Find more information at sifmanow.org
BACKGROUND
SIFMA Now! worked in partnership with legislators to introduce the first OPC legislation in Massachusetts in 2017. This resulted in the establishment of the MA Harm Reduction Commission, which recommended the opening of at least one OPC in the Commonwealth as a pilot in 2019. Preliminary data released by Massachusetts DPH shows 2,357 people in MA died of preventable opioid-related overdose in 2022. This is a 9% increase from the 2,300 lives lost in 2021. The 2022 data shows overdose deaths among Black people who use drugs rose 42% - more evidence that the war on drugs is a war on Black and Brown people. A public health and evidence-based response, not criminalization, is desperately needed to save lives, especially in communities of color.
What are Overdose Prevention Centers (OPC)?
OPC are places where people can use pre-obtained drugs under supervision. They can also provide easy access to drug treatment as well as health and social services. OPC help keep people safe from preventable harm like HIV, hepatitis, and overdose, as well as abscesses, endocarditis, and other things that land people in the hospital. OPC are an evidence based, cost-effective component of a comprehensive approach to preventing overdose and related harm.
Massachusetts is behind the curve
Almost 200 OPC operate in over 60 cities worldwide, including in Vancouver, Montreal & Toronto. The first one opened in Switzerland in 1986. There has never been an overdose death at an OPC. In July of 2021, Rhode Island became the first state in the country to authorize overdose prevention centers. They are slated to open an OPC in Providence in early 2024. November of 2021, New York became America’s first state to operate an OPC. After a year and a half in operation, there were over 68,000 site visits, and staff had reversed nearly 850 overdoses. In an early evaluation of the OPCs, participants reported that had they not had access to the sites, they would have had to use in a public or semipublic location. An adjacent playground that was closed down because of abandoned syringes has been reopened and is currently being used safely by neighborhood children. This data reveals the tremendous need and impact of OPC. We must take action to stop preventable overdose deaths in Mass now.
What OPC Legislation in MA would do
Legislation as currently written would authorize a 10 year pilot program for overdose prevention centers in Massachusetts. The legislation is narrowly crafted to allow individual municipalities the power to decide whether they want to host an OPC, legally clearing the way for that local decision while protecting potential staff and participants.
In September 2021, the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery (JCMHSUR) had a hearing for bills S.1272/H.2088 where many people shared testimony. There was near universal support during the hearing. In June 2022, both bills S.1272/H.2088 were reported favorably out of the JCMHSUR and assigned to the Joint Committee on Healthcare Finance (JCHF) who did not move legislation forward despite evidence supporting the cost-effectiveness of OPC. S.1242 / H.1981 An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment is currently sitting in the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery awaiting a hearing. This legislation removes the final roadblock to the operation of OPC in MA. The city of Somerville has already committed to operation of an OPC once legal precedence allows.
TAKE ACTION!
Your voice matters! Your experience, perspective, and support can determine how the Committee moves on legislation. Sharing the dire need for OPC, personal experience and your expertise on how an OPC should operate (ex. Peer-run vs medicalized, other offerings / services etc) can help legislators understand how it would serve people.
EMAIL 1. GOVERNOR HEALEY
Email Governor Healey to share your support of OPC & urge her to show true leadership by sharing her explicit support for OPC and encourage the legislature to move OPC bills through the legislative process as swiftly as possible so OPC may be authorized in MA.
Email Governor Healey using the form on the State of MA Website linked here
EMAIL TEMPLATE
Subject: Authorize Overdose Prevention Centers Now - people’s lives depend on it!
Comments:
Dear Governor Healey,
My name is [your name] and I live in [your location in Massachusetts or connection to the state]. I [fill in your job title or capacity that you are coming to the call i.e. I am a person who has been impacted personally by overdose or I am a researcher who studies overdose or I am a doctor of patients with substance use disorder]. At least 12,794 people in MA have died of preventable overdose since overdose prevention center (OPC) legislation was initially introduced in 2017. There has never been a death at a OPC. Between January and March of 2023, 520 people in MA people have lost their lives. Regardless of what tomorrow’s data shows, every life is precious and one life is too many. In contrast, there has never been a death at an OPC. Your constituents will continue to die of preventable overdose deaths if you do not show true leadership and take URGENT action. There is an abundance of irrefutable evidence supporting OPC around the world, and now locally from New York. There is no need to further delay - I am calling on you to save lives now by sharing your explicit support for OPC and asking legislative leadership to move OPC bills through the legislative process as swiftly as possible!
I support overdose prevention centers because [pick the benefit that means the most to you and/or your community and share evidence about how OPC would improve the lives of community members across Massachusetts, some are listed below]. An OPC would impact [you, a loved one, your community because... -- share your lived experience or personal reason for supporting OPC, if you feel comfortable].
Every day that passes without establishing overdose prevention centers guarantees that more people will die of preventable overdose death. I am again urging you to show true leadership, and use your position and power to authorize overdose prevention centers in MA - people's lives depend on you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your address]
EMAIL 2: YOUR LEGISLATORS, MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE USE & RECOVERY COMMITTEE CHAIRS & LEADERSHIP
Email your legislators, the MHSUR Committee Chairs, and leadership to share your support of OPC legislation and urge them to move OPC bills through the legislative process as quickly as possible.
- Find your legislators here
- Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee Leadership
- Sen John Velis, Co-Chair
- Rep. Adrian Madaro, Co-Chair
- Sen. Julian Cyr, Vice-Chair
- Rep. Michelle DuBois, Vice-Chair
- Senate & House Leadership
- Sen. Karen Spilka, Senate President
- Rep. Ronald J. Mariano, Massachusetts Speaker of the House
EMAIL TEMPLATE
To: YOUR LEGISLATORS, John.Velis@masenate.gov, Adrian.Madaro@mahouse.gov, julian.cyr@masenate.gov, Michelle.DuBois@MAHouse.gov, Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov, Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov
Subject: Support Overdose Prevention Centers Now - people’s lives depend on it!
Comments:
Dear YOUR LEGISLATORS, Chair Velis, Chair Madaro, Vice-Chair Cyr, Vice-Chair Dubois, Speaker Mariano, and President Spilka,
My name is [your name] and I live in [your location in Massachusetts or connection to the state]. I [fill in your job title or capacity that you are coming to the call i.e. I am a person who has been impacted personally by overdose or I am a researcher who studies overdose or I am a doctor of patients with substance use disorder]. At least 12,794 people in MA have died of preventable overdose since overdose prevention center (OPC) legislation was initially introduced in 2017 - and 2,357 people in 2022 alone. Regardless of what tomorrow’s overdose data from DPH shows, every life is precious and one life is too many. In contrast, there have been ZERO deaths at an OPC. Yet, your constituents will continue to die of preventable overdose deaths if you do not show true leadership and take URGENT action. I am urging you to support overdose prevention centers and do everything within your power to move S.1242 / H.1981 An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment through the legislative process as quickly as possible, people’s lives depend on it.
I support overdose prevention centers because [pick the benefit that means the most to you and/or your community and share evidence about how OPC would improve the lives of community members across Massachusetts, some are listed below]. An OPC would impact [you, a loved one, your community because... -- share your lived experience or personal reason for supporting OPC, if you feel comfortable].
Every day that passes without establishing overdose prevention centers guarantees that more people in MA will die a preventable overdose death. I am again urging you to show true leadership and not only support overdose prevention center legislation but do everything in your power to move S.1232 / H.1981 through the legislative process as quickly as possible - people’s lives depend on you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your address]
TALKING POINTS
Context in Massachusetts
- Preliminary data from the State shows 2,357 people in MA died of preventable opioid-related overdose in 2022. This is a 9% increase from the 2,300 lives lost to preventable overdose death in 2021.
- Data just released by DPH shows overdose deaths among Black people who use drugs rose 42% - more evidence that the war on drugs is a war on Black and Brown people.
- We lose 6 community members a day to preventable overdose in MA - no one has ever died at an OPC.
Benefits for people who use drugs
- OPC reduce fatal overdose – there are almost 200 OPC worldwide, and no one has ever had a fatal overdose in one
- OPC reduce HIV, hepatitis C, and other injection-related infections
- OPC help people access substance use disorder treatment
- People who use an OPC are 35% more likely to seek addiction treatment compared to those who are not.
- OPC improve access to harm reduction, health care, and social services
- OPC provide a caring, safe space to access care and services
Benefits for the community
- OPC reduce fatal overdose – nearly everyone knows someone who died of overdose. None of those people had to die. Every overdose death is a policy failure.
- OPC save public money
- OPC reduce publicly discarded syringes
- OPC reduce public drug use, drug use in business bathrooms, etc.
- OPC improve neighborhood security
- OPC reduce the number of sedated people on the street, in bus stops, etc.
View more evidence on the toolkit’s next page and check out the Drug Policy Alliance new Fact Sheet on OPC.
