By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.
U.S Congressman Seth Moulton, who represents Lynn and the North Shore in Washington DC, was home last week to announce more than a half million dollars in federal funding to help health centers on the North Shore in the fight against Massachusetts’ opioid epidemic.
$325,000 in federal funding has been awarded to the Lynn Community Health Center (LCHC) according Moulton last week and another $352,083 was awarded to the North Shore Community Center, which operates sites in Peabody and Gloucester.
According to the Lynn Community Health Center and the Lynn Police Department opioid overdose deaths in Lynn totaled 54 deaths last year, which was up from the 38 opioid deaths in 2014.
The funding brought home to the district by Moulton will help to expand the number of patients the Lynn Health Center can serve through its Integrated Primary Care, Behavioral Health and Addictions Treatment Program. According to information released by LCHC, the program currently serves 375 people in Lynn, with 350 of those being treated with Suboxone and 25 being treated with Vivitrol. The two drugs are addiction treatment medicines.
The goal is to serve 1,000 patients suffering with addiction in Lynn. The funds can also be used to hire more nurses and therapists.