6. a. The Commissioner of Human Services may award grants, based upon any monies appropriated by the Legislature, to create or support local opioid overdose prevention, recognition, and response projects. County and municipal health departments, correctional institutions, hospitals, and universities, as well as organizations operating community-based programs, substance use disorder programs, syringe access programs, or other programs which address medical or social issues related to substance use disorder may apply to the Department of Human Services for a grant under this section, on forms and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner.

b. In awarding any grant, the commissioner shall consider the necessity for overdose prevention projects in various health care facility and non-health care facility settings, and the applicant’s ability to develop interventions that will be effective and viable in the local area to be served by the grant.

c. In awarding any grant, the commissioner shall give preference to applications that include one or more of the following elements:

(1) prescription and distribution of naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an opioid overdose;

(2) policies and projects to encourage persons, including drug users, to call 911 for emergency assistance when they witness a potentially fatal opioid overdose;

(3) opioid overdose prevention, recognition, and response education projects in syringe access programs, substance use disorder treatment centers, outreach programs, and other programs operated by organizations that work with, or have access to, opioid users and their families and communities;

(4) opioid overdose recognition and response training, including rescue breathing, in drug treatment centers and for other organizations that work with, or have access to, opioid users and their families and communities;

(5) the production and distribution of targeted or mass media materials on opioid overdose prevention and response;

(6) the institution of education and training projects on opioid overdose response and treatment for emergency services and law enforcement personnel; and

(7) a system of parent, family, and survivor education and mutual support groups.

d. In addition to any moneys appropriated by the Legislature, the commissioner may seek money from the federal government, private foundations, and any other source to fund the grants established pursuant to this section, as well as to fund on-going monitoring and evaluation of the programs supported by the grants.

L.2013, c.46, s.6; amended 2023, c.177, s.56.