Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 City of Revere’s SUDHI Office combines data and compassion in its work toward a Revere without overdoses Focus is on education, harm reduction, expanding Naloxone access, and community outreach W ith over $450,000 in opioid abatement funding, the City of Revere’s Substance Use Disorder and Homelessness Initiatives (SUDHI) Offi ce is taking a data-driven approach to fi ghting the opioid epidemic and preventing deaths. Opioid-related deaths in the city have declined 10%, from 30 in 2022 to 27 in 2023, mirroring statewide trends. There was also a signifi - cant drop in opioid-related EMS calls in Revere: 199 in 2022 and 164 in 2023. An Overdose Heat Map compiles data from the Revere Police Department and EMS to identify areas of the city with the highest frequency of overdose responses and target resources accordingly. Following are some City of Revere initiatives: • Expanded access to free naloxone: Nine “Nalox-boxes” have been installed in highfrequency areas, and 538 individual doses of naloxone have been removed from the boxes thus far. Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses the eff ects of an opioid overdose, allowing bystanders to call emergency services and get people the care they need. • Business outreach and training for staff : At an August 26 meeting of the City Council, it approved the next installment of Opioid Abatement Funds. The SUDHI team, along with the Opioid Abatement Working Group, proposed a business outreach and training program that would arm businesses in priority areas with naloxone and training on how to administer it. • Mobile outreach and warming center: The launch of a new Mobile Outreach Program is designed to support our most vulnerable populations. This initiative will provide essential services, including free HIV and Hep C testing, as well as access to harm reduction supplies. The goal of this initiative is to meet people where they are at, offering compassionate care and resources. By bringing these critical services to the community, SUDHI aims to expand its Public Health programming and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access the care they deserve. In addition, SUDHI will reopen the Chris Alba Memorial Emergency Warming Center in the winter months. • Community survey: The City continues to seek input on how to best use opioid abatement funds from residents, community members and organizations, or other stakeholders who have been affected by the opioid epidemic, or those simply concerned with the issue. Seventy-fi ve surveys have been received to date, with a goal of 100 by the end of September. Focus groups will be hosted in October with the hope of soliciting even more nuanced feedback from those with lived experience, aff ected family members and the harm reduction workforce. “We’re putting these abatement funds to work to save lives,” said Mayor Patrick M. Keefe, Jr. “Our city has a strong SUDHI | SEE Page 21 - LEGAL NOTICE - Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 185 of the Acts of 1983, Public Hearing: D To all interested persons: A petition for of and of requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: of and of be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve on the bond in Acting Chairman: Christopher Ciaramella September 13, 2024
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