The City of Fall River will receive a $2 million grant over the next four years to aid in addressing the issues of substance abuse and behavioral health within the city and surrounding communities.
The program will focus on preventing and reducing opioid overdoses by training first responders in the use of overdose reversal drugs such as Narcan and working with community and medical partners in adding Recovery Coaches to connect those with substance abuse problems to treatment.
Niki Fontaine, Street Outreach Coordinator for the Fall River Police Department and in recovery, says those in need of substance abuse services and treatment are not defined by location.
Partners on the project include SSTAR, Boston Medical Center, Compassionate Health Care Group, River to Recovery, Recover FR, Essentia Wellness and LICSW practitioner Mary Chapman.
SSTAR Chief Operating Officer Patricia Emsellem says her organization will expand its services to help those with substance abuse problems transition to a plan of treatment.
Training in the program will begin for first responders later this fall.
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