H.2605: An Act regarding consistent care for addiction rooted in evidence
(Filed in the Senate by Senator John Keenan as SD.1647)
This bill would address addiction as a medical issue and help to promote individual health by ensuring that all persons who are incarcerated have access to medications for addiction treatment and a qualified addiction specialist at any time during their incarceration. In addition, it requires these individuals to receive a re-entry treatment plan which would include a referral to an appropriate provider, at least two doses of an opioid antagonist, information about treatment, housing, and employment resources in the area, and a reinstatement or application for MassHealth benefits.
H.2606: An Act to save lives by distributing Narcan to individuals at risk for an opioid overdose
(Filed in the Senate by Senator John Keenan as SD.914)
Post-incarceration is a period of high risk for unintentional fatal opioid overdose. This bill would require all correctional facilities to provide, upon release of detainees with a history of opioid use, the tools to reverse an opioid overdose including information about how to use opioid antagonists (such as Narcan), where they can find opioid antagonists in their community, and at least two doses of an opioid antagonist for their use post-release.
