Mass. AG's Office Awards $1.5 Million In Grants To Address Racial Disparities In Opioid Treatment Services

The Massachusetts attorney general's office has awarded $1.5 million in grants to 16 organizations across the state to address racial disparities in opioid addiction treatment and recovery services.

The grant program supports treatment and recovery programs committed to standards that serve Black, Indigenous, and people of color, Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement this week.

"The opioid epidemic is far from over, and the COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated barriers to care that have systemically and disproportionately harmed communities of color for far too long," she said in a statement. "We have prioritized equity in our grant programs and awarded these funds to organizations that are committed to providing accessible recovery and treatment services to diverse patients across our state."

According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid-related overdose deaths increased for Hispanic and Black non-Hispanic communities between 2018 and 2019, she said.