Lowell, Massachusetts
Addressing Opioid Abuse Through Adult and Juvenile Intervention Programs
Site LE Agency
Lowell Police Department
Site Researcher
Robin Toof, Ph.D., Wilson Palacios, Ph.D., Melissa Morabito, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Lowell and Brenda Bond, Ph.D., Suffolk University
Site Focus
Opioid Overdoses, Property Crime
SPI Strategy
Multi-agency collaboration, Problem-oriented policing
Site Cohort
2016
Site Profile
Mid-sized urban area of 13.58 sq. miles with a population of 109,729
Project Overview
The City of Lowell has been experiencing overwhelming increases in drug abuse—specifically, opioid overdose—for the last few decades. In 2015, almost 6 percent of residents (579 out of just over 109,000) experienced opioid overdoses, 46 of which were fatal. In just the first three months of 2016, Lowell experienced 23 confirmed opioid overdose fatalities. To respond to this crisis and provide overdose victims with substance abuse treatment and social services, Lowell developed the multi-organizational Community Opiate Outreach Program (CO-OP). CO-OP also included services for children affected by opioid overdoses in their families through Project CARE (Child Assessment & Response Evaluation).
Methods and Findings
- The City of Lowell experienced 579 opioid overdoses in 2015, 46 of which were fatal.
- By March of 2016, Lowell had already experienced 23 confirmed opioid overdose fatalities.
- The Lowell Community Opiate Outreach Program (CO-OP) and Child Assessment & Response Evaluation (Project CARE) aim to:
- Reduce arrests and increase access to treatment for overdose victims.
- Reduce the effects of trauma experienced by children impacted by opioid overdose.
- Inform research, policy, and programs for adults and children impacted by opioid addiction.
