THE NUMBER OF OPIOID overdose deaths in Massachusetts rose by 9 percent in 2021, a worrying number in a state that had started seeing some success in addressing the opioid epidemic when COVID-19 hit and reversed that progress. “These are sobering and devastating statistics,” said Deirdre Calvert, director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services […]
Opioids
Posted inNews Analysis
Opioid epidemic grinds on in Mass. at elevated rates
This research brief was prepared by the Boston Indicators Project. AS THE COVID-19 pandemic continues to fill headlines, the opioid epidemic grinds on with few signs of improvement. In this research brief we analyze recent data on opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts, including data from the COVID time period, to help us keep sight of a […]
Posted inDrug Addiction
Healey sues global advertising firm for marketing addictive opioids
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY, who has been one of the country’s strongest legal crusaders against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, has now filed a lawsuit against marketing firm Publicis Health for its role helping Purdue market addictive opioid pain medication. “Today’s lawsuit reveals important new information about the misconduct that caused the opioid crisis, and it’s another step […]
Posted inDrug Addiction
Rate of growth in Mass. opioid deaths slows
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICERWE THE RATE OF DEATHS due to opioid overdoses is slowing in Massachusetts, but still nearly 1,500 people died of an overdose in Massachusetts through the first nine months of the year, the state announced Monday. The 1,460 confirmed or suspected opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts between January and September represent a […]
Posted inDrug Addiction
Supervised drug use proponents trudge onward
MARYLOU SUDDERS, the governor’s secretary of health and human services, led a state commission that concluded supervised drug consumption sites would be useful tools for Massachusetts because they prevent overdose deaths and stem the spread of disease. But it’s never been clear how far she would go to launch the sites, given that US Attorney […]
Posted inThe Download
Surgeons over-prescribed opioids, report says
Research suggests many opioid addictions start innocently, with pain pills prescribed in the wake of an injury or surgery. Much of the blame has fallen on opioid manufacturers, who convinced doctors that their products were safe and beneficial to their patients. But new research suggests that many doctors continued to over-prescribe opioids for their patients […]
Posted inUncategorized
Surgeons over-prescribed opioids, report says
RESEARCH SUGGESTS many opioid addictions start innocently, with pain pills prescribed in the wake of an injury or surgery. Much of the blame has fallen on opioid manufacturers, who convinced doctors that their products were safe and beneficial to their patients. But new research suggests that many doctors continued to over-prescribe opioids for their patients […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker’s new tax tone
It was one of the most dissected lines from Gov. Charlie Baker‘s recent inaugural address, coming at the end of a victory lap about the recent budget surplus. “And we did it without raising taxes,” Baker exclaimed to the crowd of officials and supporters in the House Chamber earlier this month. That may have been […]
Posted inOpinion
Four reasons medication-assisted treatment may not help inmates
IN DECEMBER, a federal district court judge in Massachusetts ordered the Essex County jail to provide an entering inmate methadone so that he could continue his successful methadone treatment of the last two years. The individual had failed on the other opioid medications, buprenorphine and naltrexone. He had overdosed and been revived with naloxone multiple […]
Posted inOpinion
E-scripts for opioids save lives
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER recently signed into law a bill to mitigate the state-level effects of the ongoing opioid crisis. Like other such legislative efforts at both the federal and state levels, this important legislation requires healthcare providers and pharmacies to switch to electronic prescribing of controlled substances. This most recent legislative success reflects just how […]