New Bedford Health Department Receives Grant to Fight Opioid Addiction Among Children

The New Bedford Health Department receives a substantial grant to further the fight against opioid abuse in the city.

Health Department Director Dr. Brenda Weiss says the Baker-Polito administration has awarded $85,000 to the department to go towards the prescription drug misuse prevention effort.

Dr. Weiss tells WBSM News, the program's primary focus will be on the city's youth. "We could do after-school programming in the community. We could do peer support for families and children that's off school time, as well. There's many opportunities to reach the youth, and the school's one of them," said Weiss.

Dr. Weiss says she's looking to get area middle schools and the high school involved in teaching students about the dangers of opioid abuse, and a special task force has been formed to help steer that conversation.