The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Monday (May 10) $2.3 million worth of grants will be awarded to support resources for Black and Latino men being released from prison. The funds will specifically be used to provide recovery-based services to men who are at risk of deadly overdoses during their re-entry, according to a report by WWLP.
“Studies have shown that incarcerated individuals who participate in re-entry programs are less likely to relapse after treatment for substance use,” Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said. “This award is part of our ongoing effort to dismantle barriers to substance use treatment services especially in communities of color.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, fatal drug overdoses spiked among Black Americans, underlining the challenges Black communities have faced over the last year and beyond. Studies have shown that recidivism is prominent among Black males in the US, particularly due to the barriers and inequality present upon their release from incarceration.
The grants will support programs at local nonprofit organizations who will provide the services to the men who are incarcerated in Essex, Suffolk, Worcester, and Hampden counties. Program participants will start getting case management services about six months before their release and continue to receive recovery support after being released from prison.
Officials selected four organizations that are located in areas with high rates of opioid use to provide the support for men being released from prison in these ares. The grants will extend through August 2026, with each organization receiving $460,000 each year.
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