UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester has received a $350,000 state grant for a mobile addiction services van, one of five such programs in the state.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Wednesday it gave the same funding amount to other agencies in Boston, Fall River, New Bedford and Springfield.
The program is meant to help those at high risk for overdose and with other medical complications associated with substance use. A goal is to provide care for those who aren’t receiving services through other means, initiate medication for addiction treatment, and provide connections to longer-term care, the Department of Public Health said. They will also provide syringe exchanges, offer primary care services including wound care and vaccinations, and screening for communicable diseases, including HIV and tuberculosis.
The program is expected to start July 1. The vans in Worcester and Springfield were donated by the Kraft Family Foundation of Foxborough.
