Overdose Prevention Centers

What this bill would do:

• Establishes a 10 year pilot program of overdose prevention centers (OPCs) that require approval by local boards of health
• Establishes legal and regulatory framework to operate OPCs successfully
• Makes legality of OPCs explicit, including civil and criminal protection for municipalities, providers, and clients
• Requires data collection to prevent overdose deaths and guide public health efforts

Why we need it:

Several communities across the state are interested in providing comprehensive harm
reduction programs including overdose prevention services, but legislation is needed to
establish the legal and regulatory framework for them to do so successfully.

Municipalities need to know the state will not stand in the way of local, evidence-based public
health efforts. Providers need to know working at a center will not jeopardize their professional
license. Clients need to know they will not go to jail for getting help.

Excerpted from Massachusetts for Overdose Prevention Centers