Ipswich Public Health Department to Launch Opioid Abatement Support Award

IPSWICH – Ipswich Public Health Director and Opioid Abatement Coordinator Colleen Fermon announces that in response to findings from the 2025 Needs Assessment, the town is launching the Opioid Abatement Support Award.

The award was created through the development of a strategic plan that will guide the Town’s use of Opioid Settlement Funds for the next several years. 

The award, financed by opioid settlement dollars, will award payments to Ipswich residents to help offset treatment costs and recovery expenses.

The application period for the Opioid Abatement Support Award will begin on Sept. 8, 2026. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis as long as funding is available.

Eligibility requirements for applicants include:

• Proof of Ipswich residency.Must currently be an Ipswich resident and provide documentation such as a utility bill, mortgage statement or lease agreement with the applicant’s name on it. 
• The treatment or recoveryservice being pursued has to be related to opioid use. 

The Opioid Abatement Support Award only pays for services on behalf of the applicant. The award money is sent to the business entity providing the service, not the applicant; there are no reimbursements for services that have already been paid. A maximum of $1,000 per person can be granted in a one-year time frame.

“Through our Needs Assessment, it became abundantly clear that the community was in alignment with our mission to provide financial support to residents seeking treatment and recovery,” said Fermon. “The Town of Ipswich is pleased to be able to direct our Opioid Settlement Funds toward the community in a meaningful way.”

To submit an award application, click here. Awards are not guaranteed. 

For additional questions, please contact Director of Public Health/Opioid Abatement Coordinator Colleen Fermon at colleenf@ipswichma.gov or 978-356-6606.