The Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Services is pleased to announce that it will be providing free Naloxone to residents.
Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. When given in time, Naloxone can restore breathing within 2-3 minutes in a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to an opioid overdose.
The Department has qualified to participate in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Community Naloxone Purchasing Program (CNPP).
“Naloxone is an essential tool in our collective fight against opioid overdoses, and a tool we’re now able to provide to everyone in our community who needs or wants it,” Public Health Director Sigalle Reiss said. “I encourage anyone — and especially those who know someone who is at risk of overdose, or is at risk themselves — to take advantage of this lifesaving resource.”
Through its participation in the CNPP, Brookline may now order fully subsidized Naloxone directly from the State Office of Pharmacy Services. As an affiliate program, the Brookline DPH will be responsible for providing counseling on overdose prevention and training on overdose response to all individuals who receive CNPP-obtained Naloxone.
The Department will launch Project Citizens Accessing Naloxone (Project CAN) and will offer group training throughout the summer and fall. The Department will also welcome anonymous, walk-in requests for Naloxone any time during business hours (08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 08:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday) at the Public Health Building, 11 Pierce Street, Brookline, MA 02445.
More information can be found here.
The Department will offer Naloxone in a prefilled nasal spray form which anyone can use without medical training or authorization, though training will be available on-site prior to distribution.
If you or someone you know is at increased risk for opioid overdose or has an Opioid Use Disorder, please contact the Brookline Public Health Nurse at 617-730-2320 to access Naloxone at no charge. Naloxone is free, safe, and available to all.
