Glossary

ACRONYMS

AGO: Attorney General’s Office
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
ATS: Addiction Treatment Services
BSAS: Bureau of Substance Addiction Services
CBO: Community-Based Organization
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CSS: Clinical Stabilization Services
DPH: Department of Public Health
EMS: Emergency Medical Services
EOHHS: Executive Office of Health and Human Services
HCV: Hepatitis C
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HRAC: Harm Reduction Advisory Council (BSAS)
LADC: Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor
LEAP: Lived and Living Experience Advisory Pool (BSAS)
MAHRWC: Massachusetts Harm Reduction Workforce Coalition
MASH: Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing
MAT: Medication Assisted Treatment
MOAR: Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery
MOUD: Medication for Opiate Use Disorder
OAC: Opioid Abatement Collaborative
OAT: Opiate Agonist Treatment
OBAT: Office-Based Addiction Treatment
OHA: Office of HIV/AIDS
ORRF: Opioid Recovery and Remediation Funds
OTP: Opioid Treatment Program
OUD: Opioid Use Disorder
PAWS: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
PWLLE: Person/People with Lived or Living Experience
PWUD: People Who Use Drugs
RCW CAB: Redefining Community Wellness Consumer Advisory Board
SAMSHA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SSP: Syringe Service Program
STI: Sexually Transmitted Infection
SUD: Substance Use Disorder
TGE CAB: Trans and Gender Expansive Consumer Advisory Board (BSAS)

TERMS

Abatement: In the context of opioid settlements, abatement refers explicitly to actions and strategies designed to reduce the harm caused by the opioid crisis, including those designed to reduce opioid misuse, treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and related disorders, and mitigate the ongoing effects that the overdose crisis has on individuals, families, and communities.
Abatement Funds: Abatement funds are opioid settlement dollars that must be used to directly address the harms caused by the opioid crisis. This means investing in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programs that are evidence-based and designed to save lives, reduce overdoses, and support long-term healing in communities. These funds are not for general expenses — every dollar must go toward solutions that tackle the crisis and improve public health.
Abstinence: Abstinence means choosing to avoid using drugs, alcohol, or certain behaviors, often as a way to support personal health and well-being.
Abuse: Abuse is the harmful or excessive use of substances like drugs or alcohol, or the harmful treatment of people or things.
Addiction: Addiction is a complex pattern of behavior marked by strong cravings and a need for pleasure or relief. It can involve substances like drugs or alcohol, or behaviors such as gambling, work, pornography, or internet use.
Addiction Treatment Services (ATS): Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) or withdrawal management are structured programs that help individuals address substance use through medical care, counseling, and recovery support. Services may include detox, mental health care, relapse prevention, and referrals to ongoing treatment.
Ally: An ally is someone who actively supports and stands in solidarity with a community or group they are not a part of, especially those facing discrimination or marginalization. Allies listen, learn, and use their privilege to advocate for equity, inclusion, and justice.
Buprenorphine: Buprenorphine is a medication used to treat opioid addiction by easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS): The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) is the Massachusetts government agency that oversees the statewide system of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use.
Case Manager: A case manager is a professional who helps people access the services and resources they need, coordinating care and support to improve their health and quality of life.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a U.S. federal government agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that works to protect health, prevent disease, and promote safety through research, education, and emergency response. The CDC supports public health programs nationwide and internationally.
Cisgender: Cisgender is a term for people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman is cisgender.
Community-Based Organization (CBO): A Community-Based Organization (CBO) is an organization that operates at the local level to provide support, resources, and services tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals and families in a community in areas such as health, housing, education, and social services.
Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS): Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS) offer 24-hour treatment for people who need a safe and structured setting to support their recovery after withdrawal management. Services include nursing support, case management, education and counseling, and aftercare planning.
Department of Public Health (DPH): The Department of Public Health is the Massachusetts government agency that works to protect and improve the health of the community through programs, education, and services.
Dependence: Dependence occurs when a person’s body or brain adapts to regular use of a substance, leading to a need for continued use to feel normal. If the substance is reduced or stopped, withdrawal symptoms may occur.
Detox: Detox, short for detoxification, is the process of clearing harmful substances, like drugs or alcohol, from the body, often as the first step in treating physical addiction.
Detox Program: A detox program is a medically supervised process for individuals whose anticipated withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or other drugs pose a health risk and thus require 24‑hour medical monitoring.
Dope: “Dope” is a slang term often used to refer to drugs like heroin or fentanyl.
Discrimination: Discrimination is treating someone unfairly or differently because of their race, gender, age, religion, or other personal traits. In relation to drug use, discrimination means unfairly judging or treating people based on their drug use or history, which can lead to stigma, exclusion, and barriers to care.
Drugs: Drugs are substances that can change how the body or mind works. They can be used for medicine, recreation, or other purposes.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are teams and systems that provide quick medical care and transport for people experiencing urgent health emergencies.
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS): The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is a Massachusetts government agency that coordinates and oversees programs related to health care, public health, and social services to support the well-being of individuals and communities.
Fentanyl: Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid used medically to manage severe pain, such as after surgery or for cancer patients. It is also present in the unregulated drug supply, often mixed with other substances without the user’s knowledge, contributing to overdose deaths due to its extreme potency.
Harm Reduction: Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, people who use drugs. – National Harm Reduction Coalition
Health Equity: Health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible by removing barriers like poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to care, regardless of their background and circumstances.
Hepatitis C (HCV): Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver and is most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Many people live with Hep C without symptoms, but it can lead to liver damage over time. The virus is curable with accessible treatments, and regular testing helps support early care and better health outcomes.
Heroin: Heroin is an opioid made from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy plant. It has been used in the past to relieve pain and today it is mostly known as an illegal drug.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections and diseases. Without treatment, it can lead to AIDS.
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC): A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) is a trained professional who helps people overcome challenges with alcohol and drug use through counseling, support, and guidance.
Massachusetts Harm Reduction Workforce Coalition (MAHRWC): The Massachusetts Harm Reduction Workforce Coalition (MAHRWC) is a member organization dedicated to supporting the harm reduction workforce in Massachusetts through advocacy, policy development, and workforce training.
Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR): Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) is a statewide nonprofit that advocates for people in recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions, their families, and allies. MOAR works to build recovery-friendly communities, influence public policy, and provide education and peer support to reduce stigma and expand access to recovery resources.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT): Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines medications with counseling and support to help people recover from substance use disorders more effectively.
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD): Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is a treatment option for opioid use disorder using medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These medications help people stop using opioids by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone: Methadone is a medication used to help people manage opioid addiction. It works by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms in a safe, controlled way, supporting recovery and improving quality of life.
Misuse: Misuse refers to using a substance or object in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose, often leading to harm or problems.
Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership (Mosaic): Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership (Mosaic), funded by the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and powered by RIZE, is a unique, public-private collaboration designed to fund initiatives that are addressing the opioid overdose crisis in communities and populations that have been historically underserved and have experienced a high rate of opioid-related overdose deaths. Guided by people with lived and living experience, Mosaic is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lift up and bring together the best and most promising ideas to save lives, end stigma, and improve the quality of life for people living with substance use disorder. Learn more at mosaic.rizema.org.
Municipality: A municipality is a city or town with its own local government that manages services and rules for the community.
Naloxone: Naloxone is a life saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids in the brain. It can restore normal breathing when given in time.
Narcan: Narcan is a brand name for naloxone, a medication used to quickly reverse opioid overdoses and restore normal breathing.
Nonbinary: Nonbinary is a term for people whose gender identity doesn’t fit strictly into the categories of “man” or “woman.” Nonbinary people may identify as a mix of both, neither, or something else entirely.
Opioid Abatement Collaborative (OAC): An Opioid Abatement Collaborative (OAC) refers to two or more municipalities pooling their opioid abatement funds through a formalized agreement.
Opiate Agonist Treatment (OAT): Opiate Agonist Treatment is a type of medication-based therapy that uses drugs like methadone or buprenorphine to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms for people recovering from opioid addiction.
Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT): Office-Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) in Massachusetts is addiction care provided in a regular medical office, where doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants prescribe medications like buprenorphine and offer support to help people manage and recover from substance use disorders.
Opiates: Opiates are natural drugs made from the opium poppy plant. They are used to relieve pain but can be addictive.
Opioid: An opioid is a type of drug, natural or synthetic, that works like opiates to relieve pain but can also be addictive.
Opioid Settlement: An opioid settlement is a legal agreement where private companies involved in the opioid crisis pay money to help communities recover by funding treatment, prevention, and support programs.
Opioid Treatment Program (OTP): An Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) is a licensed medical program that provides treatment for people with opioid use disorder. OTPs offer medications such as methadone or buprenorphine, combined with counseling and behavioral therapy, to help people reduce or stop opioid use, prevent withdrawal, and improve overall health and stability.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a medical condition where a person has a strong, harmful pattern of using opioids, leading to problems in their life and difficulty stopping.
Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund (ORRF): The Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund was established to address the opioid crisis by allocating funds from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The fund is managed by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). The funding for Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership comes from the Massachusetts Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund.
Ordinance: An ordinance is a law or rule made by a local government, like a city or town, to regulate activities within its jurisdiction.
Overdose: An overdose happens when someone takes more of a drug than their body can handle (poisoning), which may cause serious health problems or life-threatening effects.
Peer: A peer is someone who shares similar life experiences or challenges, such as mental health issues, substance use, or other lived experiences, and offers support, understanding, and guidance based on that shared background. Peers often play a key role in recovery, advocacy, and community support.
Peer Support Specialist: A peer support specialist is someone with personal experience in facing life challenges who offers understanding, encouragement, and guidance to others going through similar situations.
Person Who Uses Drugs (PWUD): A person who uses drugs (PWUD) is someone who uses substances, whether occasionally or regularly. The term is used to promote dignity, reduce stigma, and recognize the person’s right to respectful, non-judgmental care and support.
Person/People with Living or Lived Experience (PWLLE): A person/people with living or lived experience is someone who has firsthand experience of a particular issue — such as mental health, substance use, or houselessness — and can offer valuable insight to inform more effective, empathetic, and inclusive policies or services.
Precipitated Withdrawal: Precipitated withdrawal is a sudden and intense withdrawal reaction that happens when a person takes a medication, like naloxone or certain drugs, that quickly blocks or removes opioids from their system.
Prevention: Prevention means caring for yourself and others by taking steps to stop difficulties like illness or addiction before they start.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS): Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is a group of ongoing symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, and trouble sleeping that can last weeks or months after stopping substance use, making recovery challenging.
Racial Equity: Racial equity means creating fair treatment, opportunities, and outcomes for people of all races by addressing and removing barriers caused by racism and discrimination.
Recovery: Recovery is a personal journey toward improved health, well-being, and quality of life. It may involve abstinence or reduced substance use and is defined by the individual in a way that aligns with their values and goals. Recovery can include various supports, such as medical care, therapy, community resources, or peer support, depending on the person’s needs.
Recovery Coach: A Recovery Coach is a trained supporter who helps people in recovery set goals, stay motivated, and connect with resources. A Recovery Coach offers guidance and encouragement without providing clinical therapy.
Recovery Program: A recovery program is a supportive plan or group that helps people heal and stay healthy after experiencing addiction or other challenges, often through counseling, support, and healthy activities.
Recurrence: Recurrence means something happening again, usually after a period when it had stopped.
Rehab: Rehab, short for rehabilitation, is a program or process that helps people recover from addiction or health problems through treatment and support.
Relapse: Relapse is the return to using a substance or engaging in a behavior after a period of stopping, often as part of the recovery process.
Remediation: Remediation is the process of fixing or improving a problem, often by cleaning up, repairing, or correcting something harmful.
Rescue Breathing: Rescue breathing is a lifesaving technique where you breathe air into someone’s lungs when they’re not breathing on their own, giving one breath every 5 seconds to provide oxygen until they can breathe normally or get medical help.
RIZE Massachusetts Foundation: RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE) is solely dedicated to funding and collaborating on solutions to end the overdose crisis. Guided by those with lived and living experience and unafraid of new ideas, RIZE is building networks, designing programming, and supporting community partners who are using novel approaches to preventing overdose and increasing access to treatment and recovery supports. RIZE makes health equity a programmatic priority by addressing root causes such as racism, systemic barriers to care, and power imbalances. Learn more at www.rizema.org.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections passed from one person to another through sexual contact. They can cause various health problems, but are often treatable or preventable.
Stigma: Stigma is a negative attitude, belief, or judgment toward a person or group based on a specific characteristic, often leading to discrimination or social exclusion.
Stigmatizing: Stigmatizing means using words or actions that make someone feel judged, ashamed, or unfairly labeled because of something about them. Language that stereotypes or devalues people can hurt their self-esteem and make it harder for them to get support or feel accepted.
Sublocade: Sublocade is a medicine that helps people stop or cut down on using opioids. It’s given as a shot under the skin once a month by a healthcare provider.
Suboxone: Suboxone is a medication that combines buprenorphine and naloxone to help people recover from opioid addiction. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms while lowering the risk of misuse, offering a supportive tool for long-term healing.
Substance: A substance is any material or matter, often referring to drugs or chemicals, that can affect the body or mind when used.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD): Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a medical condition where a person’s use of drugs or alcohol causes significant problems in their life and makes it hard to stop despite negative effects.
Syringe Service Program (SSP): A Syringe Service Program (SSP) is a community-based program that provides people who use drugs with a range of supplies and services to reduce health risks. These programs aim to keep people safe and healthy, not just prevent disease. SSPs may offer naloxone and overdose prevention education, fentanyl test strips and other drug checking tools, wound care supplies, hygiene kits, testing for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infections, and connection to treatment, social services, and other healthcare. SSPs operate on a harm reduction approach, meaning they focus on reducing risks and harms associated with drug use, rather than insisting on abstinence.
Transgender: Transgender is a term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person who was labeled male at birth but knows and/or expresses themselves to be a woman is transgender.
Treatment: Treatment is the care and support given to help someone recover from an illness, injury, or addiction.
Treatment Program: A treatment program is a planned set of services and support designed to help people recover from addiction, illness, or other health issues.
Tolerance: Tolerance is when a person’s body becomes used to a drug, so they need more of it over time to feel the same effects.
Vivitrol: Vivitrol is a medication given as a monthly injection to help people recovering from opioid or alcohol addiction. It works by blocking the effects of these substances, supporting individuals in maintaining their recovery and well-being.
Withdrawal: Withdrawal is the set of physical and mental symptoms that occur when a person stops or reduces use of a substance they are dependent on, such as alcohol, opioids, or other drugs. Symptoms can include anxiety or irritability, nausea or vomiting, sweating or chills, muscle aches or cramps, insomnia, and cravings for the substance. It happens because the body has adapted to the substance and reacts when it’s no longer present.