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 […]
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 […]
Posted inDrug Addiction
Healey sues global advertising firm for marketing addictive opioidsÂ
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker unveils new opioid legislation
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Monday unveiled his second legislative proposal to deal with the opioid epidemic, focusing primarily on expanding access to treatment, demanding more vigilance on opioid prescriptions, and […]
Posted inThe Download
Drug treatment for drug addiction
Researchers are busy figuring out new ways to deal with the opioid addiction crisis, but one of the most effective approaches also comes with a good deal of controversy. That’s […]
Posted inDrug Addiction, Health Care, The Download
New law offers women drug treatment instead of prison
The disgraceful practice of sending women who have been civilly committed for substance abuse disorders to the state prison in Framingham rather than a treatment facility is finally coming to […]