Launched in 2019, the HEALing Communities Study was a bold experiment. Part of its approach was to invest 343.7 million dollars in 67 communities across the four states of Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio to reduce opioid-related fatalities using various strategies to implement three goals: 1) increasing naloxone distribution and overdose prevention education, 2) increasing access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and 3) improving opioid prescribing safety.

Massachusetts had 16 communities participating in the study, of which the four Franklin County and North Quabbin communities of Athol, Greenfield, Montague, and Orange were combined into one community cluster. The Opioid Task Force is launching an educational series to share lessons learned from our 18-month study implementation experience.

We are focusing on “Communication Strategies to Prevent Overdose” for this session, scheduled for July 25 at 2 PM. You can register for this free event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkcOmgrDssGNwqarKUIRQBxZgpLLEV-nsH

Featuring Karen Carmona, OTF’s Program Associate and HCS Communications Consultant, participants will view the array of communication materials created for the study, learn how they were used, and provide input into what else is needed to provide information about opioid use disorder and available resources in rural Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.