LYNN — According to the CEO of the Lynn Community Health Center, the most at-risk people for backsliding into substance abuse, and subsequently overdosing, are men who have been released from incarceration.
“That is why we are very excited to be able to support those individuals who are ‘re-entering’ our community after receiving treatment while incarcerated,” said Dr. Kiame Mahaniah Tuesday. “We are hoping to meet our community members before they are released, establish a relationship, and support them in terms of healthcare and wellness.”
To that end, the LCHC, in partnership with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, is among the recipients of a grant to provide recovery-based services for Black and Latino men who are at risk of fatal overdoses upon release from incarceration. The grants, totalling $2.3 million, were awarded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Health.
“Two of the cities with the highest numbers of brown and Black people being released are Lynn and Lawrence,” said Dr. Mahaniah. “The (Essex County) sheriff’s office was very interested in having a program that would cover both areas.”
Dr. Mahaniah said the grant funds are shared by the three institutions, with the Lawrence group taking the lead.
“We are predicting that they will have a larger share of the patients served,” he said.
The pilot program will serve Black and Latino men with a history of substance abuse issues who are awaiting release from prison in Suffolk, Essex, Worcester, and Hampden counties. Local nonprofit, community-based organizations will provide services and case-management care, including individual recovery support from any substance abuse.
Also receiving money via the grant are Casa Esperanza, Inc. and Fathers’ Uplift in Suffolk County, Legendary Legacies in Worcester County, and New North Citizens’ Council in Hampden County.
The organizations are located in areas with higher rates of fatal opioid overdoses among Black and Latino men and, as part of the award, will provide devoted physical space for programming.
“The data shows that people suffering from homelessness and those suffering from mental illness have a much higher rate of dying from overdose,” Dr. Mahaniah said.
“LCHC has focused on treatment of opioid use disorder over the last decade,” he said. “Our aim is comprehensive, ‘no wrong door’ care.”
Dr. Mahaniah said the LCHC currently offers primary care, including chronic disease management, HIV and hepatitis C treatment, and full mental health (therapy and psychopharmacologic) care as well as prenatal, obstetric, postpartum and pediatric care (the latter through the Moms Do Care program).
“Studies have shown that incarcerated individuals who participate in re-entry programs are less likely to relapse after treatment for substance use,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “This award is part of our ongoing effort to dismantle barriers to substance use treatment services, especially in communities of color.”
The organizations will work in partnership with county sheriff’s departments and provide programming services to eligible men during reentry planning, approximately six months before release.
The grant award will continue until August 2026, with $460,000 distributed to each program annually. The program is funded through a combination of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Overdose to Action (OD2A) grant.
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].
