Lowell, MA
City of Lowell
MAssachusetts
Urban | Population: 114,296The Community Opioid Outreach Program (CO-OP) has become an indispensable force in Lowell, Massachusetts, serving as a model for collaborative, post-overdose response and prevention. Since its establishment in 2016, CO-OP has united first responders, clinicians, and public and nonprofit organizations to address the city’s acute opioid crisis, a crisis exacerbated by significant socioeconomic disparities, high poverty rates, and limited access to local treatment resources.
Lowell, with a population exceeding 111,000, faces a median income nearly 35% lower than the state average and a poverty rate approaching 23%. These conditions, combined with a 20% increase in non-fatal overdoses from 2016 to 2018 and an overdose death rate more than four times that of comparable cities, have created a public health emergency. The opioid epidemic’s impact extends beyond individuals, affecting families and the broader community through increased rates of HIV, Hepatitis C, and trauma among children exposed to parental substance use.
Program Components and Achievements
8,836
community-based co-op encounters between oct 2019 and mar 2024
Post-Overdose and Prevention-Based Outreach
CO-OP ensures rapid engagement with individuals following an overdose, typically within 24-48 hours, providing connections to treatment, harm reduction resources, and essential services. Adding a second vehicle has enabled the team to expand their reach, covering more areas of the city and increasing the frequency of outreach.
1,391
sessions conducted with young people between jan 2020 and mar 2024
Youth Services
The Youth Outreach Specialist delivers education, case management, and individualized referrals to young people affected by opioid-related trauma, partnering with schools to raise awareness and connect students to resources.
Data Collection and Evaluation
In partnership with UMass Lowell, CO-OP employs rigorous data collection and evaluation to track outcomes, identify emerging issues, and adapt to changing community needs.
CO-OP’s Community Impact and Recognition
Both city leadership and community partners widely acknowledge CO-OP’s reputation for effectiveness.
“The CO-OP Team is known by everyone in the community as the ones to get people into detox or housing. They are the go-to people if an organization is looking for an individual in the community. The CO-OP got a second vehicle this year, giving them the flexibility to split into two groups to cover more areas of the city quickly and more times per week. Providers and City Leadership value the input of the CO-OP at weekly meetings to find out what is going on in the (homeless) encampments and on the streets of Lowell.”
—health deparmtent leader
This recognition is not merely institutional; it is deeply personal for those whose lives have been transformed by CO-OP’s work.
“If it wasn’t for the CO-OP Team being on the front lines of this epidemic, I am not sure if myself, my fiancé, or my unborn child at the time would have been able to overcome the grips of addiction. The CO-OP’s dedication and persistence saved my whole family, and we are forever grateful.”
—past client
Building Cross-Agency Relationships
CO-OP’s effectiveness is rooted in its ability to foster collaboration across agencies at all levels. The team’s input is highly valued at weekly city meetings, where their insights inform strategies for addressing homelessness and substance use on the streets and in encampments. By intentionally building relationships among supervisory staff, CO-OP has enhanced resource sharing and operational efficiency, bridging the gap between strategic priorities and on-the-ground realities.
Collaborative Partners
City of Lowell Police, Fire, and Health Departments
Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office
Riverbend (treatment and recovery)
Pridestar/Trinity EMS
Lowell Transitional Living Center
Community Teamwork Inc
Bridge Clinic
Tewksbury State Hospital
UML Center for Community Research
Navigating Competing Priorities
CO-OP’s mission-driven approach has adapted to the city’s evolving needs, particularly as the focus on homelessness response has grown. The team has been called upon to assist with encampment clearings and other activities that, while important, sometimes challenge the trust-based relationships at the heart of their outreach model. Through transparent communication with city leadership and a steadfast commitment to its core mission, CO-OP has advocated for alternative approaches and maintained alignment with prevention and treatment goals.
Responding to Evolving Community Needs
The opioid crisis in Lowell is dynamic, with shifting patterns of substance use and emerging public health threats. CO-OP’s commitment to data-driven decision-making enables the program to adapt its strategies in real-time. The planned addition of a Recovery Housing Specialist will further strengthen the team’s capacity to assist clients with housing, documents, and financial aid. At the same time, the Youth Outreach Specialist will revitalize family outreach and school partnerships.
Conclusion
CO-OP’s unwavering dedication, adaptability, and collaborative spirit have made it a cornerstone of Lowell’s response to the opioid epidemic. The community widely recognizes and deeply values the team’s ability to build trust, provide life-saving interventions, and connect individuals and families to critical resources. As one client’s testimony affirms, CO-OP’s work is changing lives and saving them. Continued investment in CO-OP is essential to ensure Lowell’s most vulnerable residents receive the support and services needed to recover and thrive.
Project Director
Maryann Manzi, Public Safety Research & Planning Director
City of Lowell
mmanzi@lowellma.gov
978-674-1903
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.