Dawn Heinen, Digital Communications Manager
As municipalities navigate how to invest opioid settlement funds in solutions that meaningfully support prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery for members of their community – Mass Cultural Council is encouraging them to consider investing in Social Prescriptions.
Every city and town has been awarded opioid settlement funds.
In 2024 alone, Massachusetts municipalities received more than $49.7 million as part of nationwide legal agreements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies.
The practice of Social Prescription is being employed in Massachusetts to help mitigate the impacts of the opioid crisis.
The practice of Social Prescriptions – referring patients to creative experiences in their communities (think museum visits, dance performances, and ceramics classes) as part of their treatment plans – started in Massachusetts through the work of Mass Cultural Council in 2020.
While Social Prescription is common in other countries, Massachusetts was first to lead the practice here in the United States. In 2024, Massachusetts launched the first statewide Social Prescribing solution in the US.
In 2025, the Town of Franklin invested a portion of its $230,500 in relief funds to Social Prescription to fuel prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery efforts.
Participating in arts and cultural experiences has proven health benefits.
Social Prescriptions have been shown to be an effective tool for the prevention of opioid and substance abuse and as treatment. Arts and culture are recognized as an effective and cost-effective solution to addiction challenges.
Mass Cultural Council has partnered with Art Pharmacy whose social prescribing solution is built around the understanding that traditional mental health services often leave gaps in care. They work to connect with trusted community partners (such as community health centers, social service agencies, education systems, and recovery organizations) to refer community residents to substance-free arts and culture experiences.
Each referred person is paired with a dedicated care navigator who handles matching, logistics, follow-up, and outcomes tracking, providing a structured, non-clinical intervention that supports both prevention and recovery.
Mass Cultural Council is urging cities and towns to invest opioid relief funds in Social Prescription – and you can, too:
Start the conversation locally.
The Massachusetts Statewide Opioid Settlements Municipal Dashboard has the contact information for each city and town. (Scroll down and click the “municipalities” tab to see funding amounts and contact information.)
Cultural organizations interested in becoming a partner in Social Prescription are invited to join Art Pharmacy’s Network of Community Partners.
Read More About Utilizing Opioid Settlement Funds for Social Prescriptions