City Reports Decline in Opioid Deaths as City Council Approves $239K Transfer

By Barbara Taormina

The Revere City Council unanimously approved a transfer from the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund to the Public Health Department in the amount of $239,000. Revere is expected to receive $2.2 million over 17 years from the opioid settlement. Massachusetts is expected to receive more than $900 million in the settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The state’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund will receive 60 percent of the award. while the remaining 40 percent is divided among cities and towns.

Public Health Director Lauren Buck and Nicole Palermo and CarrieAnn Salemme from the city’s Substance Use Disorder and Homelessness Initiatives program met with the council to present an update on the city’s opioid abatement spending plan. Funds from the settlement must be used for prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services and must be approved by the City Council. Buck began the presentation with encouraging news. Since 2016, Revere has seen a 10 percent decrease in opioid deaths each year.

“We’re hoping and expecting to see this trend continue,” Buck told the council.

Buck also said that in 2022 there were 149 calls to police for help with an overdose. In 2025, that number had dropped to 55 calls.

Buck said that from 2025 to 2026 the opioid abatement program will have spent $211,143. The money is being used for housing, community engagement and prevention and harm reduction, which included funds for basic needs and street medicine.

Salemme then described the outcomes of those efforts. Thirteen individuals were placed in housing at sober homes, and they were supported by a high-intensity case manager. This branch of the program cost $97,000.

The program spent $13,000 on its Narcan distribution effort. Through the program, 178 businesses and 298 employees received Narcan training. In 2026, 358 units of Narcan have been distributed throughout the community.

For harm reduction, $69,000 was spent meeting basic needs of individuals and providing street medicine. Over the course of the year, 15 people met with the street physician for a total of 50 times.

Through these efforts, individuals have been able to sustain independent living and sobriety for the first time in many years.

Buck proposed a budget of $271,805 for 2027 with $97,000 for housing, $73,000 for prevention and community engagement and $73,000 for harm reduction.

Despite the progress, Buck said there are still individuals in Revere that need help. “We feel we need to spend this money efficiently and effectively,” she said.

Councillor-at-Large Joanne McKenna took a moment to thank Buck, Salemme and Palermo for all their work. McKenna mentioned several people from Beachmont who were helped back up on their feet thanks to the opioid abatement program.