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2. Massachusetts Statewide Opioid Settlement Funds are the result of national settlement agreements between the Commonwealth and companies from the opioid industry whose actions contributed to the overdose crisis.

   The Commonwealth and its municipalities have a shared commitment to using abatement funds recovered from statewide opioid settlements to supplement and strengthen resources available to Massachusetts communities and families for substance use disorder prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.

   The funds must be used to implement strategies outlined in the Massachusetts State-Subdivision Agreement for Statewide Opioid Settlements. This survey was created directly based on this document, which you can access here.

   For more information regarding Opioid Abatement Funds, please view this helpful guide from Care Massachusetts: A Quick Guide to the Massachusetts Opioid Abatement Funds

   Care Massachusetts provides additional resources and technical assistance to help communities implement public health strategies that are both impactful and equitable: Resources - CareMass.org

   Your feedback is crucial in shaping how these funds are used in Lowell. All responses will remain confidential and will help guide future funding decisions. 
   
   The City of Lowell and The Lowell Health Department thank you and appreciate both your time and input!

6. We want to know how you think the City of Lowell could best utilize these opioid settlement funds in our community!

   Please tell us a little about yourself and your personal experience:

8. What is your relationship to the City of Lowell? (select all that apply)*

   1. Resident
   2. Work
   3. Receive services
   4. Children attend school
   5. Former resident
   6. None
   7. Other (please specify below)
10. Other:
12. Which sector(s) best describe you? (select all that apply)*

    1. Parent/Caregiver
    2. Youth/Teen
    3. Adult (20-39yrs)
    4. Middle Age Adult (40-59)
    5. Senior Adult (60+)
    6. Community Member
    7. Education
    8. Health Care
    9. Addiction Services Professional
    10. Individual in Recovery
    11. State/Local Government
    12. Law Enforcement
    13. Other (please specify below)
14. Other:
16. Do you have personal lived experience related to the opioid crisis? If so, and you feel comfortable enough, please describe. Write N/A, if not applicable.*
20. We'd like you to help us prioritize overall areas of focus for the community.
24. In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 7th choice is the least important)
    • Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: Support and promote treatment of persons with OUD.
    • Support People in Treatment and Recovery: Support and promote programs that are necessary for treatment and recovery processes.
    • Connections to Care: Provide connections to care for people who have or are at risk of developing OUD.
    • Harm Reduction: Support efforts to prevent overdose deaths or other opioid-related harms.
    • Address the Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons: Support diversion and deflection programs and strategies for criminal-justice-involved persons with OUD.
    • Support Pregnant or Parenting Women and Their Families, Including Babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Support pregnant or parenting women with OUD and their families, including babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, through programs and strategies that provide family supports or childcare services for parents with OUD.
    • Prevent Misuse of Opioids and Implement Prevention Education: Support efforts to prevent misuse of opioids.
26. Opioid Use Disorder Treatment*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice
28. Support People in Treatment and Recovery*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice
30. Connections to Care*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice
32. Harm Reduction*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice
34. Address the Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice
36. Support Pregnant or Parenting Women and Their Families, Including Babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice
38. Prevent Misuse of Opioids and Implement Prevention Education*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh Choice

42. Now we will ask about strategies within each category.

46. OPIOID USE DISORDER TREATMENT

    In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 4th choice is the least important)

48. Expand mobile intervention, treatment, telehealth treatment, and recovery services offered by qualified providers, including peer recovery coaches.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
50. Support evidence-based withdrawal management services for people with OUD and any co-occurring mental health conditions.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
52. Make capital expenditures to rehabilitate and expand facilities that offer treatment for OUD, in partnership with treatment providers.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
54. Treat trauma for individuals with OUD (e.g., violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or adverse childhood experiences) and family members (e.g., surviving family members after an overdose).*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
58. SUPPORT PEOPLE IN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

    In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 12th choice is the least important)

60. Provide comprehensive wrap-around services to individuals with OUD, including job placement, job training, or childcare*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
62. Provide access to housing for people with OUD, including supportive housing, recovery housing, housing, rent, move-in deposits, and utilities assistance programs, training for housing providers, or recovery housing programs that integrate FDA-approved medication with other support services.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
64. Rehabilitate properties appropriate for low-threshold and recovery housing, including in partnership with DHCD-funded agencies and OUD-specialized organizations.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
66. Provide peer support specialists that support people in accessing OUD treatment, trauma-informed counseling and recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other services, including support for long-term recovery encompassing relapse, treatment, and continued recovery.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
68. Provide community support services, including social and legal services, to assist in deinstitutionalizing persons with OUD.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
70. Support or expand peer-recovery centers, which may include support groups, social events, computer access, or other services for persons with OUD.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
72. Provide transportation to treatment or recovery services for persons with OUD.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
74. Provide employment training or educational services for persons with OUD, such as job training, job placement, interview coaching, community college or vocational school courses, transportation to these activities or similar supports.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
76. Increase the number and capacity of high-quality recovery programs to help people in recovery.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiveEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
78. Engage non-profits, faith-based communities, and community coalitions to support people in treatment and recovery and to support family members in their efforts to support the person with OUD in the family.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
80. Support programs for recovery in schools and/or standalone recovery high schools.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
82. Support bereaved families and frontline care providers.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth ChoiceNinth ChoiceTenth ChoiceEleventh ChoiceTwelfth Choice
86. CONNECTIONS TO CARE

    In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 4th choice is the least important)

88. Support the work of Emergency Medical Systems, including peer support specialists and post-overdose response teams, to connect individuals to trauma-informed treatment recovery support, harm reduction services, primary healthcare, or other appropriate services following an opioid overdose or other opioid-related adverse event.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
90. Support school-based services related to OUD, such as school-based contacts that parents can engage with to seek immediate treatment services for their child; and support prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery programs focused on young people. This should include alternatives to suspension or interaction with school resource officers such as restorative justice approaches.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
92. Fund services or training to encourage early identification and intervention for families, children, or adolescents who may be struggling with use of drugs or mental health conditions, including peer-based programs and Youth Mental Health First Aid. Training programs may target families, caregivers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health or human service professionals, or others in contact with children or adolescents.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
94. Include Fire Department partnerships such as Safe Stations.*
    -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice

    Safe Stations currently operate in Fall River and Revere: https://www.mma.org/fall-river-fire-stations-become-safe-stations-for-people-seeking-addiction-treatment/

98. HARM REDUCTION

    In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 8th choice is the least important)

100. Increase availability of naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses for first responders, overdose patients, individuals with OUD and their friends and family, schools, community-based organizations, community navigators and outreach workers, persons being released from jail or prison, or the public.
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice

     Municipalities can purchase discounted naloxone kits from the State Office of Pharmacy Services: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/naloxone-for-programs-and-agencies

102. Provide training and education regarding naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
104. "Naloxone Plus" strategies to ensure that individuals who receive naloxone to reverse an overdose are linked to treatment programs and appropriate services.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
106. Approve and fund syringe service programs and other programs to reduce harms associated with drug use, including supplies, staffing, space, peer support services, referrals to treatment, fentanyl checking, syringe collection and disposal, connections to care, and the full range of harm reduction and treatment services provided by these programs.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
108. Support mobile units that offer or provide referrals to harm reduction services, treatment, recovery supports, primary and behavioral health care, recovery support, or other appropriate services to persons with OUD.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
110. Promote efforts to train health care providers, students, peer recovery coaches, recovery outreach specialists, or other professionals that provide care to persons who use opioids or persons with OUD in crisis training and harm reduction strategies.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
112. Active outreach strategies such as the Drug Abuse Response Team model or the Post Overdose Support Team model.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
114. Provide outreach and services for people who use drugs and are not yet in treatment, including services that build relationships with and support for people with OUD.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth ChoiceSeventh ChoiceEighth Choice
118. ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CRIMINAL-JUSTICE-INVOLVED PERSONS

     In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 4th choice is the least important)

120. Programs, that connect individuals involved in the criminal justice system and upon release from jail or prison to OUD harm reduction services, treatment, recovery support, primary healthcare, prevention, legal support, or other supports, or that provide these services.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
122. Co-responder and/or alternative responder models to address OUD-related 911 calls with greater OUD expertise.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
124. Public safety-led diversion strategies such as the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion model.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice
126. Participate in membership organizations such as the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative for training and networking and utilize law enforcement training opportunities such as the Safety and Health Integration in the Enforcement of Laws on Drugs (SHIELD) model.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth Choice

     Safety and Health Integration in the Enforcement of Laws on Drugs (SHIELD) model: https://paariusa.org/

130. SUPPORT PREGNANT OR PARENTING WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING BABIES WITH NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME

     In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 3rd choice is the least important)

132. FIRST Steps Together, a home visiting program for parents in recovery that currently has seven sites serving cities and towns across the state.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird Choice
134. Pregnant/post-partum and family residential treatment programs, including and in addition to the eight family residential treatment programs currently funded by DPH *
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird Choice
136. The Moms Do Care recovery support program that has grown from two to ten programs in the state.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird Choice
140. PREVENT MISUSE OF OPIOIDS AND IMPLEMENT PREVENTION EDUCATION

     In your opinion, please rank these categories in order of importance. (1st choice is the most important, 6th choice is the least important)

142. Support programs, policies, and practices that have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing drug misuse among youth. These strategies can be found at a number of existing evidence-based registries such as Blueprints for Health Youth Development.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth Choice

     Blueprints for Health Youth Development: https://www.blueprintsprograms.org/

144. Support community coalitions in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan for substance misuse prevention. *
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth Choice

     There are a number of evidence-based models for strategic planning to consider including but not limited to:

     Strategic Prevention Framework developed by U.S Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: (https://library.samhsa.gov/product/guide-samhsas-strategic-prevention-framework/pep19-01)

     Communities That Care developed by the University of Washington: (https://www.communitiesthatcare.net/programs/ctc-plus/)

146. Engage in robust multi-sector coalition of stakeholders in both the development and implementation of the above stated strategic plan.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth Choice

     Prevention First: https://www.prevention-first.org/centers/center-for-community-engagement/about-this-center/

148. Support community based education or intervention services for families, youth, and adolescents at risk for OUD.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth Choice
150. Support greater access to mental health services and supports for young people, including services provided in school and in the community to address mental health needs in young people that (when not addressed) increase the risk of opioid or another drug misuse.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth Choice
152. Initiate, enhance, and sustain local youth health assessment through the implementation of a validated survey tool to develop localized strategic plans that will inform the best ways to institute or enhance strategies to reduce and prevent youth substance misuse, including mental health services and supports for young people, intervention services for families, and youth-focused programs, policies, and practices that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing and preventing drug misuse.*
     -- Select One --First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth ChoiceSixth Choice
156. What effective strategies have you seen that help people reach and/or maintain substance use recovery? Write N/A, if not applicable. *
158. Is there any additional information, feedback or ideas that you would like to share with us? Write N/A, if not applicable.*
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