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Wheels of Hope, which provides free transportation for Merrimack Valley residents with reserved beds at any treatment site throughout the state, relaunched this week.
The service is a collaboration between community-based Merrimack Valley Project, Lowell-based Lucos Transportation and nonprofit Health Resources in Action that runs the Massachusetts Helpline.
Licensed Social Worker Amy Tuneburg explained, “Transportation to substance use disorder services continues to be a barrier for the people of the Merrimack Valley. Wheels of Hope will remove this barrier for the people who need it most.”
People in the Merrimack Valley seeking treatment can call the Helpline at 800-327-5050 to arrange for transportation. The Helpline operates around the clock in English, Spanish and any other language.
Wheels of Hope provides free transportation to detox, residential treatment and sober housing services anywhere in Massachusetts. It also provides up to seven round-trip rides at any point in treatment to MAT providers within the Merrimack Valley for methadone, Suboxone, buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone (Vivitrol). The service is not intended to replace other transportation services.
The program is paid by grants from the Massachusetts HEALing Communities Study, Combating Opioid Overdose through Community-level Intervention Initiative, and a legislative amendment championed by state Sens. Ed Kennedy and Diana DiZoglio.