As part of the Community Wellness Division, Somerville Prevention Services Office promotes health for all community members across the lifespan, with work including substance use prevention, harm reduction, mental health and homelessness. Using an upstream model, youth are supported through a positive youth development approach, giving young people the qualities, skills and relationships we know they need to thrive, which builds good mental health and reduces risky behaviors. Our work also supports harm reduction for people who use substances and city programs and policies to support the unhoused community.
Monday - Wednesday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
50 Evergreen Ave.
Somerville, MA 02145
United States
The City of Somerville Health and Human Services Department has installed two vending machines to provide FREE products to the community. These vending machines offer quick and discreet access to reproductive care items, overdose prevention tools, hygiene supplies, seasonal products (ie., sunscreen & insect repellant; hats and gloves) and more to the whole community!
The Public Health Vending Machines are available 24/7 and located outside at:
Learn more about our public health vending machines here.
If you encounter a problem with one of our vending machines, please call 311.
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Needles, injection pens, lancets and other medical sharps must be disposed of safely and responsibly. You can do so at the following locations:
For more information, visit our safe sharps disposal page. |
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Somerville’s youth substance use prevention work uses a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach, which focuses on building young people’s strengths and resilience. Instead of only discouraging risky behaviors like substance use and violence, we build protective factors like positive adult relationships, a sense of belonging, self-esteem, responsibility, and safe spaces. Research shows that when youth have more protective factors, they are less likely to participate in risky behaviors.
MassCALL3
Through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, the city of Somerville receives funding through the MassCALL3 grant. This grant is a regional partnership with the town of Arlington and the city of Everett through the Cambridge Health Alliance. Funding from this grant supports the prevention of youth substance use through systems level change.
Current priority areas include:
This work is built off the HOPE Framework, developed by Tufts Medical Center, to develop protective factors for youth. We know that increasing protective factors for youth reduces the number of youth participating in risky behaviors. The HOPE Framework focuses on building safe environments, positive youth-adult relationships, a sense of belonging and emotional well-being for youth.
Youth Health Survey
Somerville Prevention Services collaborates with local stakeholders, including the Somerville Public Schools and the Somerville Police Department, to develop and administer the Youth Health Survey (YRBS) for middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grades 9-12) every two years.
During the coldest months of the year, the City of Somerville hosts a Winter Warming Center at the former Cummings School, 42 Prescott Street. Guests have access to hot meals, safe sleeping spaces, and onsite housing navigation and case management services.
For more information, visit our Winter Warming Center page.
Somerville Prevention Services uses a harm reduction approach to support individuals who use substances. Harm reduction includes policies, programs and practices that minimize negative health, social and legal impacts associated with substance use. Harm reduction is rooted in social justice and human rights.
Naloxone (Narcan) Distribution
Naloxone (Narcan) is a lifesaving medication for those experiencing an overdose from opioids. Administered nasally, it can help a person experiencing an opioid overdose to start breathing again. Even if you aren’t sure if someone is overdosing on opioids, using naloxone for a suspected overdose can save a life.
Naloxone can be found for free, 24/7 at any of the three locations listed below:
If you are a client-facing organization, you can request naloxone, drug test strips and CPR face masks at no cost using this link: https://forms.office.com/g/cEK95EfdEY
Overdose Prevention Trainings
Overdoses can happen unexpectedly. Being trained in how to recognize and safely respond to an overdose can help save a life.
The city of Somerville offers multiple opportunities to be trained in overdose prevention monthly. These free trainings will educate participants on how to identify signs and symptoms of an overdose, how to respond and administer naloxone. Naloxone, fentanyl test strips and CPR face shields for rescue breathing are distributed at no cost while supplies last.
Virtual Trainings: These free trainings occur the first Tuesday of the month from 3- 4 p.m. No registration is required. Find the Zoom link here.
Request a Training: If you would like to request a training for you, your team or business complete this form.
Email Han Hogan-Rigg hhoganrigg@somervillema.gov with any questions regarding the training.
SAMHSA Hotline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
https://www.crisistextline.org/
Samaritans’ Hotline
Call or text (877) 870-4673
https://samaritanshope.org/get-help/feeling-suicidal/
Complete this form to schedule a free overdose prevention & Narcan administration training to learn how to understand, recognize, and respond to a potential opioid-related overdose. Participants may receive free Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and CPY face shields for rescue breathing while supplies last. Open to Somerville and Cambridge residents and businesses.
Please email hhoganrigg@somervillema.gov with any questions regarding the training.
The City of Somerville is part of the Six City Tobacco Initiative.
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