Massachusetts Opioid-related Overdose Deaths Decrease

BOSTON — Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts decreased in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017, according to the latest quarterly opioid-related deaths report released recently by the Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH).

In the first 9 months of 2018, there were a total of 1,518 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, as compared with 1,538 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2017. This estimated decrease follows a 4{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} decline between 2016 and 2017.

“The opioid epidemic, fueled by an all-time high level of fentanyl, remains a tragic public health crisis responsible for taking too many lives in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “While there is much work left for all of us to do, we are encouraged that overdose deaths and opioid prescriptions continue to decline as searches on the Commonwealth’s Prescription Monitoring Program increase.”

The latest report also indicates that the powerful synthetic drug fentanyl present in the toxicology of opioid-related overdose deaths continues to rise and reached an all-time high at 90{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} in the second quarter of 2018. Meanwhile, the rate of heroin or likely heroin present in those deaths continued to plummet. In 2014, heroin or likely heroin was present in 71{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of opioid-related deaths; by the second quarter of this year, that number had fallen to 37{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}.

Last month, the Baker Administration filed legislation seeking $5 million to support a regional, multi-agency approach to fentanyl interdiction and crime displacement by Massachusetts municipal police departments.  The funding will supplement surveillance work and overtime costs for units engaged, and officers in the field will also work to get buyers into treatment. In addition, last April, Governor Baker signed legislation that included a long overdue “fentanyl fix” to allow law enforcement to pursue fentanyl traffickers.