The 180 Blog

Natick is one of four communities in Massachusetts that are offering free Narcan kits to residents. This effort was recently highlighted on CBS Boston. The Natick Health Department is taking steps to get the overdose reversal drug Narcan into more hands by offering free kits to residents free of charge. This $40,000 pilot program is making it easier for residents to...

A recent survey by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts finds that the majority of Massachusetts residents know someone with an opioid use disorder and more than one quarter has lost a loved one or acquaintance to an overdose death. In an article published recently in the Boston Globe, Michael Botticelli, executive director of the Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston...

Naloxone (Narcan) is an emergency medical treatment used to reverse the effects of a known or suspected opiate overdose. Naloxone is to opioid overdoses as a fire extinguisher is to fires. Both products can be lifesaving and are important to have in the case of an emergency. Naloxone gives the individual another chance at life and recovery. When Naloxone is...

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On Sunday, December 17th at the First Congregational Church, Natick hosted its fourth annual Vigil Remembering Those Who Lost Their Lives to Addiction. The gathering of approximately 75 people shared music, tears, and memories of loved ones who passed away as a result of substance use. The event, sponsored by Natick Interfaith Clergy, Natick Opioid Task Force, Natick Together for...

Addiction is a brain disorder in which the body must have a substance to avoid physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. People who become addicted to opioids get a feeling of euphoria and relaxation. Opioids are known to be a euphoric producing drug. All drugs of abuse, from nicotine to heroin, cause a powerful spike of dopamine in the brain making...

The opioid crisis in this country is fueled by a number of factors, including accessibility and high demand. Consequently, medication theft has escalated in recent years and is often committed by someone the victim knows well and who has easy access to the home. Particularly vulnerable are older adults, who often have opioids and other medications at home, either from...