哈佛台灣學生會謝郁俐卸任 姚俊辰、黃郁婷接掌會長

哈佛台灣同學會年終聚餐合影。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏 (右)恭喜姚俊辰當選為哈佛台灣同學會下屆新會長。
(周菊子攝)

       (Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導) 哈佛大學 GSAS台灣學生會 (HTSA) 12月9日晚在學生宿舍年終聚餐，選出黃郁婷、姚俊辰為下屆共會長。三、四十名同學和波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、科技組組長蔡孟勳一起玩迷你台語桌，在瘋狂爆笑中，還為即將卸任的會長謝郁俐驚喜慶生。  

經選舉產生的下屆幹部為，共會長黃郁婷、姚俊辰；副會長陳曦、黃楚棋，執行秘書黃瀞萱。

哈佛台灣同學會即將卸任的幹部群，左起，執行秘書趙昱凱，副會長黃昱婷，
會長謝郁俐，副會長蔡惟安，財政趙予辰。(周菊子攝)

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏，科技組組長蔡孟勳，當晚應邀出席。

              廖朝宏處長致詞時幽默笑說，來會場看到”選舉”兩個字，頓覺有點敏感，還一度和蔡組長商量是否該迴避一下，還好只有一組參選人，同學們只需表達同意或不同意。

廖處長透露，他到任4個月以來，包括教務處長，哈佛高層訪台次數之多，可能是歷來之最，單只是上個禮拜就有4

哈佛台灣同學會新任幹部，共會長姚俊辰 (左一)，黃郁婷(右二)等人。(周菊子攝)

個團體排定了行程。在這全球各界對台灣越來越感興趣之際，他希望哈佛同學藉由各自專業領域，把台灣的好故事傳達給周遭人們。他也直言，來年選舉不論結果如何，都將是值得人們驕傲的民主過程。

蔡孟勳組長稱許哈佛同學們都是菁英，將來一定會繼續發光發熱，希望同學們不要忘記台灣，有機會、有能力時就為台灣做貢獻。精於滑雪的他還提醒同學，可以找他切磋。

台語桌由胡金儒主持。 (手拿麥克風者) (周菊子攝)

哈佛台灣學生會會長謝郁俐在會中強調要感謝服務團隊同心協力的合作，他們才能在過去這一年中，為同學們舉辦了那麼豐富，又內容充實的活動。過去一年來，她和副會長蔡惟安、黃郁婷，執行秘書照昱凱，財務長趙予辰等人，從1月18日交接起，展開了一整年的「奇幻旅程」。儘管她們是新團隊，第一場「春酒」活動，就能吸引來將近150人，非常不容易。接著3月有「六乘六學術白話文」，以及第一場「吃飯聊學術」，4

蔡孟勳組長 (左四)的組長萬歲隊，贏得台語聽力環節第一名。(周菊子攝)

月推出了新活動「關於台灣我想聊」，期以把熱心人聚起來，更深入的討論一些議題，5月送舊，7月在台灣舉辦新生說明會，還和在台灣的哈佛校友會重新連結起來，8月迎新，9月辦了第2場的「吃飯聊學術」，10月辦了太精彩的哈佛和MIT的聯合運動會。11月第二場學術白話文。

廖朝宏處長(左三)這一隊贏得比手畫腳環節第一名。(周菊子攝)

謝郁俐指出，該會今年推出的「吃飯聊學術」，包括副會長蔡惟安主持的「那些想問卻不敢問法律人的事」，黃郁婷主持的醫藥研發及製藥業的生命週期，也都讓對話題感興趣的人，有了更深入交流機會。

當晚在有獎問答之外，迷你台語桌活動更是頻頻惹出全場爆笑。分成4組的同學們在主辦單位設計的看題填空，比手畫腳猜謎，看錄影比聽力等環節中競比，儘管題目都不容易，尤其是比聽力的錄影片段，演員們說台語速度有如機關槍，但是除了偶而的全場靜默外，同學們猜中的速度，竟也飛快。比賽結果，廖處長那一組贏得比手畫腳猜字的第一名，蔡組長的「組長萬歲」那組贏得台語聽力比賽第一名。 (僑務電子報 :    https://ocacnews.net/article/357304)

哈佛台灣學生會會長謝郁俐報告奇幻旅程。(周菊子攝)

哈佛台灣同學會年終聚會出席者眾。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏致詞。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處科技組組長蔡孟勳致詞。(周菊子攝)

麻州政府公佈托兒照顧服務補助新額度

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Proposes Transformative

New Rates for Child Care Providers

 

Rates recognize rising costs and provide greater regional equity; Under the proposal, Massachusetts would be one of the first states to use cost of care when setting rates

 

 

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced that today the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) proposed transformative changes to how much the state reimburses early education and care providers who accept child care financial assistance, known as rates, to the Board of Early Education and Care. These proposed changes would invest $65 million from the state’s fiscal year 2024 budget to set Massachusetts up to make significant progress on covering the true cost of care, make sure that providers are being paid a fair rate regardless of where they are located, and address rising operational costs for programs.

 

“One of the top priorities of our administration is making child care more affordable and accessible. These proposed rate changes build on the significant reforms to child care financial assistance regulations and policies we launched earlier this fall, increasing affordability and equity for our low-income families and early education providers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re proud that Massachusetts can lead the way in setting rates that better reflect the cost of care so our providers can invest in their educators and programming, and we can reduce child care costs for families.” 

 

“In Massachusetts, we are investing in child care so that regardless of zip code or economic background, our youngest learners can access the high-quality education they need to succeed in school and life. Setting equitable rates for our early education and care providers that better reflect the cost of providing care is an essential part of this work,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I am excited to see more about the impact these transformative proposed changes could bring to our state, making Massachusetts a more affordable place to live, learn and work.” 

 

EEC reimburses providers of child care and out-of-school time programs that serve families receiving child care financial assistance with a daily per child reimbursement rate. These rates provide direct needs-based financial assistance to increase families’ purchasing power in the market and help pay for the cost of care. The proposed transformational rates package includes three key elements:

 

• Provides a 5.5 percent cost of living adjustment to rates for all child care financial assistance providers to address increasing operational costs,
• Consolidates the agency’s rate structure to three rates using the cost of care in addition to a market rate survey so rates can reflect the cost of providing care rather than how much parents can pay for care, as well as the local market for tuition, and
• Raises center-based program rates to at least 81% of the cost of care for rates not already at or above the 80 percent level.

 

Simplifying the rate structure provides more equitable rate amounts across geographic location and age group of children served. Western Massachusetts has historically had lower rate levels compared to other regions relative to the cost of care. EEC’s proposed rate package will bring Western Massachusetts to the same daily reimbursement rate as other regions with similar costs. This would significantly increase the daily rate for center-based providers in Western MA cities and towns by 34 percent for infants, 14 percent for toddlers and 13 percent for preschools relative to FY23.

 

“Our administration believes that expanding access to more affordable, high-quality early education and care is the first step to ensuring every Bay State child has access to the education they deserve, regardless of their circumstances or background,” said Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler. “Here in Massachusetts, we don’t just want to get ‘back’ to how things were before the pandemic—these proposed rate changes will help transform our state’s child care financial assistance system to be the child care financial assistance system that our students, families and early education and care providers deserve.” 

 

“We are committed to making our child care financial assistance programs in Massachusetts family focused, accessible, dignified and equitable. The Administration is continuing that work by proposing transformative changes to our child care financial assistance rates,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “By changing our rates to better reflect the cost of care, with an intentional focus on equity, we are enabling our providers to better recruit and retain their staff and invest in high-quality initiatives without transferring those costs onto families.” 

 

Under EEC’s proposal, Massachusetts would be one of the first states to use the cost of care as an additional metric beyond the federally required market rate when setting child care financial assistance rates. There is growing recognition nationally that a market rate survey alone is not the best metric to use to set rates, as the price of care is often more reflective of how much parents are able to pay for care and the local market for tuition versus the cost of providing high quality care. Last year, EEC contracted with the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity to understand the extent to which the state’s rates cover the cost of care and ways the agency could simplify the rate regional structure. This analysis informed the agency’s transformational proposal this year.

 

The full list of proposed rates can be found online. The Board of Early Education and Care will vote on this proposal in January 2024.

 

The Administration previously announced significant improvements to the state’s Child Care Financial Assistance programs in October. This included updated regulations and policies to simplify the application process for parents, reduce paperwork for families and early education programs, and better support homeless families, families with disabilities and families facing domestic violence. Together these changes that make it easier for programs to administer child care financial assistance and proposed increased rates aim to attract more providers to participate in the state’s child care financial assistance system, expanding options and access for families.

麻州政府撥款95萬元資助人力發展項目

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Nearly $1 Million in Collaborative Workspace Program Grants Through Community One Stop for Growth   Program to Support 16 Projects Across Massachusetts

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Fitchburg to celebrate awards through the state’s Community One Stop for Growth, including $950,000 in grants from the Collaborative Workspace Program.    In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state.  “One of the things that makes Massachusetts special is our talent for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants through the Collaborative Workspace Program will help turn that energy into outcomes by providing creatives, entrepreneurs, and business owners with the partnerships and resources they need to thrive.”  “Communities across the state benefit from the catalytic power of collaborative workspaces,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “From incubators to makerspaces to shared kitchens, these facilities are hubs of economic opportunity that accelerate the creation of new businesses, jobs, and products.”  “Collaboration keeps Massachusetts competitive and fuels our innovation economy,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “The Collaborative Workspace Program provides resources to accelerate business growth, job creation, and entrepreneurial activity in communities across the state, and we’re excited to celebrate these awards.”  “Amazing ideas come to life when individuals can work together with their peers under one roof, explore new fields, and gain access to shared equipment, technology, and other resources,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “We look forward to the economic opportunities created by these 16 collaborative workspaces and the positive impact they have on cities and towns.”  Administered by MassDevelopment, the Collaborative Workspace Program provides funding to support the development of collaborative workspaces and accelerate the pace of new business formation, job creation, and entrepreneurial activity. Since the program was created in 2014 through FY23, it has supported more than 210 awards for a total investment of more than $11 million.   "The city of Fitchburg's collaboration with MassDevelopment has been incredibly successful and has resulted in impactful, tangible results for the city," said Senator John J. Cronin (D - Fitchburg). "Today's award is just another example of how this partnership continues to revitalize downtown, create opportunities for residents and business owners, and make the city a more inviting place to live, work, and build a future."  "I’m ecstatic to hear that the Fitchburg Public Market will be able to enter the final stages of construction, thanks to the Collaborative Workspace Program Grant from MassDevelopment,” said Representative Michael Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg). “The Fitchburg Public Market will be a hub in North Central for culinary diversity, serving as an opportunity for residents and tourists alike to get a taste of the many cultures that make up the city. I look forward to continuing to support the Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation as they continue their work on this project."  Collaborative Workspace Program Awards:  HSS Artist Collective Inc., Boston – $35,000  HSS Artist Collective Inc. will use this grant to further support the replacement and restoration of eight roof decks at its collaborative space for artists, Humphrey Street Studios. The collaborative space has 50 tenants practicing various mediums, including photography, sculpture, and woodworking.  Innovation Studio, Inc., Boston – $50,000  Innovation Studio, Inc. will use this grant to support expenses associated with renovating and refitting its Innovation Center and Entrepreneurial Incubator into a state-of-the-art creative, tech-forward meeting, conference, and corporate event facility. The incubator will serve as a launchpad for small business growth in the meeting and conference industry.  Maverick Landing Community Services, Boston – $51,000  Maverick Landing Community Services will use this grant to create a versatile, entrepreneurial collaborative workspace in a space in East Boston that is underutilized during the daytime. By repurposing this space, the improvements will provide a venue during daytime hours for inclusive community development that empowers individuals to work, learn, and create together.  Foundry Consortium, Cambridge – $95,000  Foundry Consortium will use this grant to enhance its building’s collaborative workspaces by implementing soundproofing, improving on-site technology, and streamlining reservations. This project addresses the expressed needs of the artists and organizations that access the site to further facilitate increased usage, lower barriers to entry, improve booking processes, and enable users to monetize their work.  Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, Easthampton – $50,000  The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce will use this grant to build out a collaborative workspace at a building it owns in downtown Easthampton. In FY22, MassDevelopment awarded the organization a $5,000 seed grant to study market and design feasibility for the project.  Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation, Inc., Fitchburg – $90,500  Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunities Foundation, Inc. will use this grant to enable the final stages of construction for the Fitchburg Public Market, a local food retail store and shared commercial kitchen for entrepreneurs in north-central Massachusetts.  Wellspring Cooperative Corporation, Holyoke – $45,000  Wellspring Cooperative Corporation will use this grant for improvements to support new programming at its existing shared kitchen in Holyoke. Improvements will include installing an energy-efficient mini-split heating and cooling system; undertaking flooring upgrades; renovating an unfinished room into additional space; and adding a walk-in cooler.  Lynn Music Foundation, Lynn – $81,000  Lynn Music Foundation, in collaboration with Lynn Museum, will use this grant to improve and activate the first- and second-floor spaces of the Lynn Arts building to provide a center for development and collaboration opportunities for local artists in music, media, and visual arts.   Jacqueline Business Services, Inc., Methuen – $50,000  Jacqueline Business Services, Inc. will use this grant to continue the build-out of a collaborative workspace in Methuen for small business owners who want to start or grow a business. Funds will be used to fit out the space so it can provide on-site educational and coaching programs, as well as financing consulting; assistance with local, state, and federal regulations; human resources support; and operational guidance.  The Hive Nantucket, Nantucket – $100,000  The Hive Nantucket will use this grant to advance the conversion of an existing building into a shared food production and innovation facility, helping local food businesses achieve commercial viability, regional competitiveness, and national visibility. Funds will be specifically used to buy technology and equipment needed to launch operations and provide programming once renovations are complete.  Community Economic Development Center, New Bedford – $100,000  Community Economic Development Center will use this grant to support the build-out of the former Capitol Theater in New Bedford’s North End neighborhood. Funds will be specifically used to fit out the shared-use kitchen, adjacent to a market incubator and training space, that can be leased on an hourly basis to start-up food-based businesses.  The Sphere Northampton, Northampton – $100,000  The Sphere Northampton will use this grant to build out a vacant and gutted storefront to increase space and visibility of The Sphere Innovation Lab. The lab will be a woman- and nonbinary-oriented entrepreneur coworking space based on inclusivity, collaboration, and uplifting entrepreneurs.  Berkshire Innovation Center, Pittsfield – $50,000  Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) will use this grant to fit out BIC Works @MOCA, a “node” at Mass MoCA in North Adams in partnership with BIC members, academic institutions, and economic development partners. The partnership will leverage the energy of the MoCA community, giving the BIC a physical presence and ease-of-access to serve students and organizations in northern Berkshire County.  Women Encouraging Empowerment, Revere – $20,000  Women Encouraging Empowerment will use this grant to upgrade technology and make essential renovations to its facility in Revere’s Shirley Avenue neighborhood. The facility is a space for community gathering, resource sharing, and programming.  Southbridge Tech Incubator, Southbridge – $20,000  Southbridge Tech Incubator will use this grant to continue replacing an inefficient and failing HVAC system.  KJ Management, LLC, Taunton – $12,500  KJ Management, LLC will use this grant to study the market and feasibility of opening and operating a coworking space in Taunton.

僑委會擴大海外華語文布局，發布 2024 年「臺灣華語文學習中心」 新設置名單

 僑委會擴大海外華語文布局，發布 2024 年「臺灣華語文學習中心」 新設置名單

(Boston Orange)僑委會日前發布明（2024）年 21 所「臺灣華語文學習中心」新設置 名單，包含美國 14 所、義大利 2 所及英國、比利時、西班牙、波 蘭、荷蘭各 1 所。

僑委會表示，為擴大經營海外華語文市場，分享具臺灣特色的正體華 語文教學，僑委會訂定「海外華語文學習深耕計畫」以美國及歐洲為 主要地區，運用僑民與僑教網絡成立「臺灣華語文學習中心（Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning，TCML）」，招收當地社區母語非華 語的族裔人士，3 年來已有超過 5000 人次學習華語，展現具體的推 動成效。

今年海外僑校（團）踴躍申請新設置「臺灣華語文學習中心」，經僑 委會召開審查會議，考量整體華語文市場布局、區域代表性及經營能 力等因素，共核准美國聖迪瑪斯慈濟人文學校、聖地牙哥中華學苑、 愛恩中文學校、天樂語文學校、慈濟聖馬刁人文學校、華府慈濟人文 學校、慈濟長島教育中心、匹茲堡慈濟人文學校、平原中華文化中 心、休士頓臺灣松年學院、達拉斯光華中文學校、佛光山達拉斯人文 學校、阿肯色州臺灣同鄉會、臺塑中文學校、義大利臺灣交流協會、 臺灣在義大利文化協會、英國臺灣佛教慈濟基金會英國聯絡處、比利 時華語協會、西班牙馬德里華僑學校、波蘭臺灣文化語言交流協會、 荷蘭南荷台灣(廠商)聯誼會等 21 所僑校（團）於明年新成立「臺灣 華語文學習中心」。

僑委會自 2021 年試辦「臺灣華語文學習中心設置計畫」，至 2023 年 已設立 66 所，分布於美國 54 所，英國、德國及法國各 2 所，另奧地 利、愛爾蘭、瑞典、匈牙利、捷克及比利時各 1 所，2024 年將再有 21 所加入，臺灣華語文學習中心推廣體系將更加完整。

近年各地臺灣華語文學習中心課程已陸續吸引當地企業、政府合作開 班授課，相關成果獲得美國在臺協會（AIT）的肯定與支持，期盼透 過臺灣華語文學習中心將臺灣華語文之美推廣至海外各地，深入歐美 主流社區分享臺灣華語文教育，不僅提供主流社會成年人士學習具臺 灣特色華語文的機會，並邀請學華語之歐美青年到臺灣參加青年營 隊、語文班、觀摩團與英語服務營，更直接體驗臺灣的文化與生活， 藉此推動雙向文化交流和語言學習，也協助達成「2030 雙語政策」 之目標。

The Overseas Community Affairs Council Expands the Overseas Network of Mandarin Teaching and Announces the 2024 List of Newly Established “Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML)” The Overseas Community Affairs Council, R.O.C. (Taiwan) (OCAC) recently released the list of 21 new establishments of “Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML)” for the upcoming year (2024). The list includes 14 centers in the United States, 2 in Italy, and 1 each in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands. The OCAC has stated that, to expand its presence in the overseas Mandarin learning market and share the distinctive features of Mandarin teaching in Taiwan, it has formulated the “Overseas Mandarin Learning Cultivation Plan.” The primary focus is the United States and Europe. Leveraging the networks of overseas compatriot communities and educators, the OCAC has set up the TCMLs worldwide. These TCMLs aim to enroll individuals from non-Mandarin-speaking backgrounds in the local communities, and over the past three years, the centers have attracted over 5,000 participants, demonstrating tangible progress in promoting Mandarin learning. This year, overseas compatriot schools and organizations enthusiastically applied for the establishment of new TCML. After convening a review meeting, a total of twenty-one applications were approved, including Tzu Chi Academy, San Dimas, San Diego Chinese Academy, EFCI Chinese School, San Mateo County Chinese School, Tzu Chi Academy, San Mateo, Tzu Chi Academy, Washington D. C., Tzu Chi Long Island Education Center, Pittsburgh Tzu Chi Academy, Plainview Chinese Learning center Inc, Houston Taiwan Institute for Senior Citizens (HTISC), Sun Ray Chinese School, Buddha's Light Private School, Little Rock Chinese School, Formosa Plastics Chinese School from the United States, Associazione Taiwan e Italia (ATI), Associazione Culturale Taiwanesi in Italia from Italy, Taiwan Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation UK Limited from the United Kingdom, Taiwan Mandarin Association in Belgium from Belgium, Asociación Cultural Educativa de los chinos de ultramar en Madrid from Spain, Taiwan Culture and Language Exchange Association from Poland and Taiwan Business Families in the South Netherlands from the Netherlands. The OCAC initiated the “Establishment Program for Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning” in 2021. By 2023, 66 centers have been set up across 54 locations in the United States, 2 each in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, and 1 each in Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Belgium. In 2024, an additional 21 centers will be added, enhancing the comprehensive promotion system of Taiwan’s Mandarin learning. In recent years, Taiwan Mandarin learning courses around the world have attracted local businesses and governments for various collaborations. The relevant achievements have also received recognition and support from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The aim is to promote the beauty of Mandarin globally through these TCMLs, engaging with mainstream communities in Europe and America, and actively sharing Taiwan's Mandarin learning education. This initiative not only provides opportunities for adult learners in these mainstream communities to learn Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics but also invites young learners of TCML from Europe and America to participate in Language Study Program, Taiwan Study Tour, English Teaching Volunteer Service Program for Overseas Youth in Taiwan. These approaches allow learners to directly experience Taiwanese culture and life, promoting mutual cultural exchange and language learning. These activities also contribute to achieving the goal of the “Bilingual 2030.” 

Massachusetts Public Health Officials Release Latest Opioid-Related Overdose Reports

 Massachusetts Public Health Officials Release Latest Opioid-Related Overdose Reports

 

Feasibility report concludes that overdose prevention centers would be effective at reducing overdoses and fatalities

 

BOSTON (December 13, 2023) – Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts decreased slightly in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2023, compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data released today by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, there were 2,323 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, eight fewer than the same time last year. Massachusetts had a record 2,359 opioid-related overdose deaths in all of 2022.

 

The preliminary data show that fentanyl was detected in 93 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths in the first three months of this year. The increasingly toxic drug supply in the United States and ongoing opioid epidemic have claimed the lives of more than 25,000 people in Massachusetts since 2000.

 

The reports are being released today alongside a feasibility report recognizing that the establishment of overdose prevention centers (OPCs) in Massachusetts would be an effective intervention to combat preventable overdoses and decrease fatal overdose rates in the state.

 

“The overdose crisis continues to devastate our communities and families throughout Massachusetts. When I read these numbers, I’m heartbroken to think about the lives connected to each one and their loved ones who are enduring this tragic loss,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is combating this crisis by continuing to invest in community supports aimed at destigmatizing substance use disorder and reducing the negative effects of substance use. Together, we can advance harm reduction and prevention efforts through evidence-based strategies, including low-threshold access to services and long-term solutions for treatment and recovery.” 

 

“Every year, sadly, we lose thousands of Massachusetts residents to drug overdose, underscoring the tragic impact of the opioid crisis on communities across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By collaborating with municipalities across the state and investing in innovative efforts like peer-recovery support centers, we are helping municipalities and community organizations offer crucial and responsive care to residents struggling with addiction.” 

 

The Overdose Prevention Center Feasibility Report, compiled as part of the administration’s Opioid Epidemic Strategy, recognizes the establishment of OPCs in Massachusetts as an evidence-based, life-saving tool that aligns with DPH’s approach to reduce the harms of substance use. OPCs are facilities where people who use drugs can consume pre-obtained substances under the supervision of trained staff who can administer overdose reversal medication when necessary. Other services at OPCs commonly include access to sterile supplies, first aid administration, drug-testing services, infectious disease testing, and referrals to health and social services including substance use disorder treatment.

 

The findings of the OPC feasibility report support those made in 2019 by the Massachusetts Harm Reduction Commission that called for the state to expand harm reduction resources, including by pursuing the establishment of one or more overdose prevention centers. After a review of available data, DPH has concluded that the establishment of OPCs in supportive communities is an evidence-based, valuable harm reduction service that could be feasible in Massachusetts pending legislative action to extend state-level legal protections.

 

No overdose death has ever been reported at a sanctioned OPC, as highlighted in the report. OPCs have operated for more than 30 years in Canada, Australia, and much of Europe, and are in place or being explored in New York City, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and Philadelphia.

 

“We are determined to reduce and eliminate fatal overdoses in our state, and yet, the numbers keep climbing,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “Each number represents a person who was beloved and whose death was preventable, and we will make use of every tool at our disposal to fight this opioid epidemic that has claimed too many lives in Massachusetts. We will continue to support bold, innovative solutions to help us turn the tide of this crisis and prevent any additional fatal overdose deaths.”

 

“Far too many Massachusetts families have been shattered by the trauma, grief, and heartbreak of losing a loved one to overdose,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Robert Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Overdose deaths are preventable and that is why we should – and we must – continue to forge a culture of harm reduction by initiating and expanding services and programs that have been shown to work. We know most overdose deaths occur in private and go unwitnessed. Overdose prevention centers, therefore, can be lifelines, serving not only as places of intervention, but as places of empathy, understanding, and healing.”

 

DPH continues to support a wide range of harm reduction strategies. DPH is working with syringe service providers (SSPs) to explore opportunities to provide services through harm reduction vending machines as an additional component of harm reduction programming. DPH will continue to identify communities with high overdose incidence and with limited naloxone distribution to support further access to these types of harm reduction services. 

 

For the first time, DPH also released data today detailing non-fatal opioid-related overdose (NFO) rates in Massachusetts. From 2013 through 2021, a total of 133,295 NFOs involving 72,018 Massachusetts residents were reported. Public health surveillance of NFOs is limited to events during which a patient receives medical services (such as ambulance trips, emergency department visits, or hospitalization), so the true number of NFOs in Massachusetts may be greater. People who survive one opioid overdose are more at risk for another opioid overdose. The data released today show that one of every 11 people who had one NFO from 2013 through 2021 (6,404 out of 72,018) later experienced a fatal opioid overdose.

 

The Healey-Driscoll administration continues to address the state overdose crisis by investing in evidence-based prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorder, including an expanded 24/7 overdose prevention helpline, increased access to low-threshold housing and services, and increased distribution of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone and fentanyl test strips. Working closely with the legislature, the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget invests more than $700 million in substance addiction prevention and treatment programs.

 

More information on the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s actions and initiatives to address the opioid crisis can be found here.

 

Key Findings from December 2023 Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths Report:

• There were 1,718 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2023, approximately 32 fewer deaths than in the first nine months of 2022.  

• The rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts has increased at a rate of 3 percent per year on average from 2015 (25.6 per 100,000 people) to 2022 (33.6 per 100,000).
• Cocaine has increased at a rate of 6 percent per quarter on average since 2016 and was present in a record high 60 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths in the first three months of 2023 for which a toxicology report was available.
• Alcohol was present in 29 percent of toxicology reports in the first quarter of 2023, benzodiazepines in 24 percent, prescription opioids in 11 percent, amphetamines in 10 percent, xylazine in 7 percent, and heroin in 4 percent.
• Males comprised 72 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2023.
• 47 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2023 were among people aged 25-44.
• Naloxone was administered in 97 percent of acute opioid overdoses treated by Emergency Medical Services during the first nine months of 2023.

Key Findings from Non-Fatal Opioid-Related Overdose Data Brief:

• The number of non-fatal opioid overdoses among Massachusetts residents increased by 130 percent from 2013 to 2017 and decreased 18 percent from 2017 to 2021.

 

 

Statements of Support 

 

Massachusetts Public Health Association 

“MPHA applauds the Healey-Driscoll administration for centering public health strategies and leadership in its response to record high overdose deaths and widening racial disparities. Overdose prevention centers are an evidence-based tool that will save lives and make progress in this public health crisis.”

 

Dr. Barbara Spivak, President, Massachusetts Medical Society 

“On behalf of our physician members and their patients, we thank DPH for investing its expertise and resources into conducting this feasibility study. OPCs irrefutably save lives and the alarming overdose data reported today underscores the dire need to authorize OPCs in the Commonwealth as a critical harm reduction tool. Building upon this important study, we urge legislative action to establish the necessary legal and liability protections to ensure this vital public health approach can become a reality.”

 

Dr. Sarah Wakeman, Senior Medical Director, Mass General Brigham 

“An estimated 2,323 of our neighbors died from a preventable cause of death in the past year, which is a tragic reminder of the need for every tool possible to reduce overdose deaths, including overdose prevention centers. The choice is not between having overdose prevention centers or people not using drugs — the choice is between creating centers where people can not die from overdose versus the status quo, where people will continue to die behind bedroom doors down the hall from their parents, in public restrooms, and alleyways. Amidst the worst overdose crisis in history, Massachusetts should join other states and lead by passing legislation to allow for overdose prevention centers. We owe it to the thousands of people who lost their lives to overdose, to their families, and to our communities.” 

 

Dr. Julia Fleming, Medical Director for Public Health, Fenway Health 

“In this data, we are witnessing a public health crisis, which calls for a public health solution. OPCs are a proven method to reduce deaths from overdose and provide a low threshold access point for people who use drugs to connect to healthcare. We need legislation that supports communities that are ready to add this intervention to their toolbox.”

 

Joanne Peterson, Founder and Executive Director, Learn to Cope 

“Overdose deaths are not slowing down much, even with all the effort we have already put in. We have to start changing our approach. Many overdose prevention center sites go beyond harm reduction services and offer food, wound care, professional medical attention and the opportunity to go to treatment when ready. They might just be the key to changing this epidemic. It's time to add more tools to the toolbox. If we meet people where they are and give them a chance to live (and someday hopefully seek treatment), we may finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.” 

 

Julie Burns, President and CEO, RIZE Massachusetts Foundation 

“The Department of Public Health’s report on overdose prevention centers is critical because it underscores the need for a legislative solution that provides a legally protected pathway for providers and property owners who are ready to set up programs here in Massachusetts and for individuals who will use the services. The data released today makes clear that we need to utilize every available option to end fatal overdoses, and these centers have already been shown, in other states and countries, to prevent deaths and increase access to treatment.” 

 

Steve Walsh, President and CEO, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association 

“The evidence is clear: overdose prevention centers represent an important, proven part of our response to the substance use crisis in Massachusetts. MHA and our members fully support these new DPH recommendations, including the need to protect the caregivers at the heart of harm reduction care. OPCs give our commonwealth an opportunity to, once again, step up and address this crisis with the innovation and urgency it deserves.” 

 

Lydia Conley, President and CEO, Association for Behavioral Healthcare 

“The primary goal of Overdose Prevention Centers is to prevent fatal overdoses and provide people who use drugs with accessible health services.  As overdose rates remain at unprecedented levels, there is an urgent need to implement evidence-based solutions like OPCs that keep people alive and that can serve as a linkage to further treatment and care. They represent one of many harm reduction tools that should be made available within the continuum of substance use care, which must also include robust prevention, treatment and recovery services.” 

 

Jim Stewart, SIFMA Now Steering Committee 

“Recognizing the evidence that supports overdose prevention centers will only be meaningful if it comes with leadership to help authorize and support the implementation of OPC to reduce preventable overdose death and support the health, wellbeing, and lives of people who use drugs.” 

 

Maryanne Frangules, Executive Director, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery  

“The Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR), a collective voice for individuals, families, and communities educating the public about the value of living in recovery, thanks the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for issuing the Overdose Prevention Center Feasibility Study recognizing the value of supporting the path of those using drugs to have a safe place to use pre-obtained drugs, and receive health care, social services, and referral options. With so many fatal overdoses, let’s make this move to save lives a reality.” 

 

Dr. Mattie Castiel, Commissioner of Health and Human Services, City of Worcester 

“This new report from the state has shown that overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are a safe and effective form of harm reduction. This finding, with continued state support and direction, may offer new avenues to address the epidemic and improve outcomes.” 

 

Jessie Rossman, Legal Director, ACLU of Massachusetts

“Public health crises require public health solutions. It is within the state’s purview to set public health policy to protect its residents, and an important part of that is the legislature’s express authorization of overdose prevention centers. We thank the Department of Public Health for its commitment to addressing the overdose crisis and look forward to partnering with the legislature to enable cities and towns to establish these life-saving facilities.”