Lowell

The City of Lowell Health Department created the Substance Abuse and Prevention Division in 2017 to house staff dedicated to addressing substance misuse prevention. The Division has expanded greatly since its development, and currently has team members focusing on all parts of the prevention continuum.

The Substance Abuse and Prevention Division houses several of Lowell’s prevention and harm reduction programs:

• Syringe Collection Program: 978-674-1049
• Lowell Community Opioid Outreach Program (CO-OP): 978-631-7240
• Youth Substance Misuse Prevention (MassCALL3 Grant): 978-674-1078
• Unwanted Medication and Sharps Disposal Days: 978-674-4304
• Data Collection and Information Sharing: 978-674-1065

We’ve been featured in the Lowell Health Department’s monthly newsletter. Check us out!

• Get to Know Us Newsletter – Substance Abuse and Prevention Division
• Get to Know Us Newsletter – Lowell CO-OP 11-02-2021

Want to learn more about our programs and initiative? Check out our updates on the monthly Board of Health agendas. We typically have a PDF under the “Director’s Report” that can be accessed on the electronic agenda.

For more information about the Lowell Health Department or the Substance Abuse and Prevention Division, call or visit:

• City of Lowell Health Department, Substance Abuse & Prevention Division: 978-674-4304
• City of Lowell Health Department: 978-674-4010

The Substance Abuse and Prevention Division staff take a collaborative approach to meet their goals by working with a wide network of health, medical, safety, and educational organizations throughout Lowell and the Greater Lowell. Below are highlights of the work that they are doing, often working alongside community partners:

• Provide credible and accurate information regarding initiatives and efforts to address Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in the City.
• Connect individuals with SUD and families with treatment options and support and recovery resources.
• Provide outreach education to schools, youth and family serving agencies, and community organizations.
• Work to ensure there are adequate treatment options available to meet the needs of the community.
• Promote a deeper understanding of SUD as a disease.
• Work to effect changes to social norms around SUD. Provide proper disposal options for unwanted medications and sharps (needles, lancets, EpiPens).
• Implement prevention efforts to reduce the non-medical use of prescription medication.
• Collaborate with community agencies to promote and implement prevention and harm reduction efforts.
• Strengthen knowledge of local substance abuse, mental health, medical, supportive, and recovery resources.
• Oversee and work as team members on the City’s post overdose response team, the Lowell CO-OP.

Looking for more information? Check out these resources:

• 10 Years of Opioid Overdose in Lowell (Trinity EMS’s Opioid Related Illness Responses): 10 Years of ORI Calls – Trinity EMS – Mayor’s Opioid Task Force Data Subcommittee 10-2021
• 2022 Meeting Calendar for the Lowell Mayor’s Opioid Task Force: Mayor’s Opioid Task Force Calendar 2022
• City of Lowell’s 2021-2022 Winter Weather Emergency Plan: Winter Weather Emergency Plan 2021-22