Opioid deaths in Central Mass double since 2012
Unintentional opioid-related overdose deaths in Central Massachusetts doubled between 2012 and 2015, according to preliminary data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
The central region saw a total of 201 unintentional or undetermined opioid-related overdose deaths in 2015, just short of the 207 reported for 2014. In 2012, 103 unintentional opioid-related deaths were confirmed. Data for 2014 and 2015 are preliminary and subject to change, as a large number of death certificates haven’t yet received final cause-of-death codes, according to DPH.
Urban areas like Worcester, Fitchburg and Framingham had the highest concentration of opioid-related deaths. There were 13 in Fitchburg last year, eight in Framingham and 57 in Worcester.
Statewide, the number of deaths rose from 2014 to 2015, from 1,282 to 1,379 last year. DPH estimates that there will be an additional 63 to 85 deaths for 2014 and 118 to 179 deaths in 2015, based on data available as of March 2016.
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