Stoughton to Receive $100,000 to Fight Substance Abuse

Stoughton will receive $100,000 in as part of a grant from the state to fight substance abuse.

The money comes as part $2.9 million in new funding from the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to dramatically expand the availability of substance abuse prevention services and programs in communities across the Commonwealth, including historically underserved areas such as the Berkshires, Barnstable County, and Martha’s Vineyard.

“As we work closely with our municipal and medical leaders to combat opioid abuse, these resources are important to addressing the problem early and before it begins,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a release. “The effectiveness of these programs and the example they set for our young people will be critical as we work with all our partners to prevent the tragedies that have already impacted too many of our Commonwealth’s families.”

“With our communities on the front lines of prevention and treatment, these grants will offer additional tools to educate and respond to substance abuse, including our growing opioid epidemic,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Starting as early as possible to educate on the risks and responsibilities our young people have is just one step in the road we have ahead in preventing substance abuse.”

The Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative (SAPC) is a new BSAS grant program with the objective of preventing drug use with a focus on opioids, as well as other factors that contribute to the onset of drug use. The SAPC grants will support this objective across the Commonwealth by building and improving the capacity of municipalities to address these issues and with guidance align them with recommended strategies from Governor Baker’s Opioid Working Group.

“Tackling substance abuse requires a multi–pronged approach,” said Secretary Marylou Sudders. “This unprecedented grant will allow communities to ‘meet them where they are,’ and address risky behavior, earlier.”

The SAPC grant builds on the work of the 31 community–level substance abuse prevention programs previously funded by DPH through its Under–Age Drinking (UAD) prevention grant. The new grant will widen the scope of that prevention work to include other substances beside alcohol, and significantly increase the level of municipal engagement in the effort by funding municipal partnerships – boosting the number of participating communities from 27 to 127.

“We know that the best way to stop a substance abuse problem is to never start in the first place,” said DPH Commissioner Monica Bharel. “That’s why it’s so important that we provide comprehensive prevention tools and resources at the community level where our young people are – no matter where that may be.”