Introduction

The role of local governmental health departments in Massachusetts is to promote health and equity, combat disease, increase longevity, and improve the quality of life for all residents of the Commonwealth. Over the past decade, recognition of substance misuse as a chronic and widespread health issue has grown, and health department staff have taken the lead in addressing the needs of people with substance use disorders, including those addicted to opioids. Opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths remain a critical public health problem in the Commonwealth, with total deaths in 2020 reaching a record high, and Black and Latinx opioid death rates now higher than for any other racial group.

This toolkit will prepare local health department staff to respond to the opioid epidemic. We know that prevention interventions are most successful when they are well-matched to the needs and conditions of the community. This one-stop reference guide contains the information local health departments need to create and implement prevention approaches that make a difference.