Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey was on Cape Cod Tuesday, announcing the awarding of grant money to various schools in Barnstable and Martha’s Vineyard.
Healey, along with Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe and State Rep William Crocker met with students at Centerville Elementary School to say that part of $700,000 earmarked to fight the opioid epidemic is headed to the Cape. That money derived from a settlement the AG’s office reached with two major pharmacies – CVS and Walgreens – over their opioid dispensing practices.
Healey tells WXTK News that battle to combat opioid addiction needs to start prior to the addiction:
"Prevention is key," said Healey, "We have to do everything we can to help those who need treatment, who are in recovery, to continue to focus on that. But, the best thing to do to stop addiction is to prevent it from happening in the first place and that comes down to prevention and education."
Barnstable Public Schools, the Monomoy Regional School District and Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools will receive the grant money to put programs aimed at prevention in place at all grade levels. Barnstable and Martha’s Vineyard schools will each receive nearly $20,000 while Monomoy will get $15,000.