Opioid deaths dip slightly in Mass., as officials work for better results
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Opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts decreased slightly in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, frustrating health officials who hoped the public investment in fighting the epidemic would lead to a greater slowdown in deaths.
In that 12-month period, 2,323 people died from opioid-related overdoses in Massachusetts, compared to 2,331 over the same period the previous year, a decrease of eight, according to data released Wednesday by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
“The overdose crisis continues to devastate our communities and families throughout Massachusetts. When I read these numbers, I’m heartbroken to think about the lives connected to each one and their loved ones who are enduring this tragic loss,” Gov. Maura Healey said in the press release accompanying the DPH report. “Our administration is combating this crisis by continuing to invest in community supports aimed at destigmatizing substance use disorder and reducing the negative effects of substance use.”
At the WBJ Health Care Forum on Wednesday, health experts said they had hoped the numbers would be trending in a better direction as the state and private providers have launched new programs in an attempt to lower opioid-related overdose deaths.
Fentanyl was present in 93% of opioid-related deaths, according to the DPH data released Wednesday. Fentanyl, a highly dangerous and often fatal substance, is often mixed with other drugs unbeknownst to the end users. One of the ways Massachusetts has tried to combat opioid overdose deaths is by distributing test strips so people tell if their drugs contain fentanyl.
Wednesday’s data release follows DPH’s report in June showing opioid deaths were up nearly 20% in Worcester County and nearly 40% in the city of Worcester. Deaths in Worcester were at an all-time high in 2022, according to the past 10 years of data. Updated local data was not available with the new December 2023 report from DPH. It will be included in the next report in June.
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