Bill > H4123

This bill amends Chapter 126 of the General Laws to require correctional facilities in Massachusetts to distribute opioid antagonists (specifically naloxone, a medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose) to individuals upon their release. The bill defines key terms, including "opioid antagonist" as a drug approved by the FDA to counteract narcotic overdoses, and specifies that a department-approved pharmacist or designee must provide two doses of the antagonist to each incarcerated individual directly at the point of release. This provision aims to help prevent potential overdose deaths among recently released individuals, who are at heightened risk of overdose due to reduced tolerance after periods of incarceration. By mandating the distribution of naloxone, the bill seeks to provide a critical harm reduction intervention for individuals transitioning from correctional facilities back into the community.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4123