CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - On Thursday the Massachusetts legislature approved a new law that will help tackle the opioid crisis. The new legislation aims to serve better those facing addiction. One of the new guidelines prevents an automatic referral to the Department of Children and Family Services when requesting opioid-reversal drugs like Naloxone. State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez told 22News, "We all know somebody that has faced drug addiction, and now we are trying to deal with it through the lens of public health instead of criminalizing." The bill has been signed into law and is now in the carrying-out stage. Since 2023, Naloxone has reversed more than 10-thousand overdoses statewide. Local News Headlines Crews put out two-alarm barn fire in Pittsfield Man sentenced for drugs and firearm charges in Northampton State approves new law to help address opioid crisis Springfield Dept. of Elder Affairs hosts holiday brunch WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.