Randolph PD  Receives Grant Award from Norfolk County Commission Under Statewide Opioid Settlements

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RANDOLPH — Chief Anthony Marag is pleased to share that the Randolph Police Department will receive a grant as part of the statewide opioid settlements. 

In July 2021, Attorney General Maura Healey announced a $26 billion resolution with opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which will provide more than $500 million to the Commonwealth and its cities and towns for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery across Massachusetts.

Norfolk County last week received $4,111.93 from the statewide opioid settlement funding and County Commissioners awarded the funds to the Randolph Police Department. 

The department will use the funds to continue prevention initiatives, including the purchasing of Narcan. Randolph Police officers administer an average of approximately 40 doses of Narcan per year.

The award funds will also be used by the support services unit which conducts follow-up visits to victims and families to provide guidance and resources, and to assist with the purchasing of literature to share during follow-up meetings. The literature, which will serve to educate and provide resources regarding substance use disorders, will also be used by the department at various community events. 

“The prevention initiatives this grant award will go toward are all essential to our department’s mission to support our community and to help those affected by the opioid epidemic, including through outreach, education and by providing follow-up support, all with the goal of saving lives within our community,” Chief Marag said. “This funding will help build on and enhance these programs, and we are grateful to the Norfolk County Commissioners for their support of our efforts.”  

“The opioid crisis has affected every community in Massachusetts, and we have seen in recent years how important it is to invest not only in intervention practices, but also prevention work,” Randolph Town Manager Brain Howard said. “Our Randolph Police officers are on the forefront of this public health crisis, and this funding will help ensure they have the resources they need.”

“Working together locally allows us to increase the impact we have on our communities,” said Norfolk County Commission Chairman Joseph Shea of Quincy. “The County is always seeking funding opportunities to support our cities and towns and we are grateful Randolph has a preexisting program doing good work which we can contribute to, which will make a significant impact on those struggling with opioid addiction.”

County Commissioner Peter Collins of Milton added, “We all know someone or some family who has been effected by opioid addiction. The County continues to be committed to working with our local partners like Randolph to leverage resources to address this public health scourge. I hope we can expand the scope of these successful partnerships going forward.”

County Commissioner Richard Staiti of Canton added, “I am pleased to be working together with the Town of Randolph Police Department in seeking new and innovative ways to promote education as well as enhance prevention in dealing with the opioid epidemic facing our society today.”

More information about the opioid settlements can be found here.

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