With the passing of the 60s and 70s, it seemed the attention paid to narcotic use, if not the actual use itself, died off, giving way to stories of recreational use of drugs such as cocaine and club drugs such as Ecstasy.
But in recent months, the number of opiate overdoses has risen dramatically, forcing government and health officials to scramble to confront the problem that never really went away. A WBUR-MassINC Polling Group survey finds more than a third of those surveyed know someone who has struggled with an opiate addiction in the last year.
Earlier this year, State Police reported there were 185 opiate overdose deaths in a four-month period at the end of last year to this year, and that doesn’t include the state’s three biggest cities, Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, which tally their own. In Taunton, which has been hit especially hard, there have been more than 140 overdoses this year, at least 10 of them fatal. US Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, who represents the city, has asked the State Department to step up efforts to slow the flow of drugs into the country.
There’s no one reason why the spike in drug use has occurred but many point to the cheap cost and ready availability of heroin as compared to some designer drugs as well as the increased purity and deadly addition of fentanyl to the mix, which is causing addicts’ hearts to freeze up even from just snorting the powder.
The epidemic prompted Gov. Deval Patrick to declare opiate abuse a public health emergency and allocate money toward treatment and health-related concerns. The 36-member Opiate Task Force, which includes mayors, local and state health officials as well as health care providers, is scheduled to meet today to discuss ways to use the $20 million Patrick has set aside to beef up substance abuse treatment.
But as varied as the reasons for the increased use and overdoses, there is no single approac h and officials recognize the old ways don’t work with the broadening problem . “It’s not a problem we can arrest our way out of,” Carver Police Chief Marc Duphily told the Boston Globe .
That recognition has prompted the state to ease restrictions and push local police, fire, and emergency personnel to carry Narcan, the brand name for the drug that quickly reverses the effects of an overdose. More and more departments are carrying a Narcan kit in cruisers and ambulances, and almost daily there are stories of lives being saved with the quick application of the drug. But that only brings addicts back; getting them off the drugs is another challenge.
The state Senate has passed a bill to address the opiate dilemma by placing tighter restrictions on prescription narcotics and remove barriers for insurance providers to extend coverage for treatment.
Some substance abuse professionals are urging parents to seek a so-called Section 35 in courts, a law that allows a judge to civilly commit someone whose drug or alcohol problem puts them or others at risk of “serious harm.” Last year, there were more than 7,000 petitions for Section 35 commitments in state courts. But Fox 25 found that more than a quarter of them – nearly 2,000 – were denied. It has led to some instances of addicts dying. But, in judges’ defense, they can’t commit everyone against their will just because a loved one wants them to. And, if you listen to the tape Fox has in their story, some addicts can be very convincing of their ability to function and determining what constitutes “serious harm” can be challenging.
Officials know time is not their ally in this. A report by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services found that 12.3 percent of adolescents in Massachusetts between the ages of 12 and 17 reported using an illicit drug within one month of the survey, significantly above the national average of 9.8 percent. In addition, the survey found that young women admitted for substance abuse treatment had a higher rate of heroin abuse than their male teen counterparts.
The one thing everyone agrees on is this can’t continue.
–JACK SULLIVAN
BEACON HILL
Call it the worst of both worlds: Contrary to public perceptions (probably fueled by outlier examples of outrageous payouts) Massachusetts is among the stingiest of states when it comes to state pensions. At the same time, we’ve done a horrible job a fully funding these more modest pension obligations, writes Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
Scot Lehigh takes stock of 10 years of gay marriage, and pronounces himself proud to call Massachusetts home.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
Somerville mayor Joe Curtatone plans to sign an order barring the city’s police from holding people for federal authorities solely because of suspected immigration status violations.
Attleboro ‘s city council approves a local meals tax, and increases in municipal fees.
CASINOS
A new WBUR-MassINC Polling Group survey indicates 52 percent of voters favor a ballot question repealing casino gaming getting on the ballot while 39 percent are opposed.
Blue Mass Group’s David Kravitz says casinos are the issue for various statewide races this fall.
Everett is close to inking a surrounding community agreement with rival Mohegan Sun.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
Gov. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire signs a gas tax hike into law, the Eagle-Tribune reports.
A federal judge strikes down Pennsylvania‘s ban on gay marriage, NPR reports.
Strange bedfellows: Jeff Jacoby comes to the defense of uber-lefty congressman John Conyers of Detroit, with whom he probably shares no political views.
The FBI is considering loosening its prohibition against hiring anyone who has smoked marijuana in the past three years.
The chairman of the House oversight committee subpoenas the Department of Justice as he looks into the IRS. Slate argues that Congress’s fixation on the IRS, Benghazi and Obamacare misses the real national outrage — the state of the department of Veterans Affairs.
ELECTIONS
Ipswich voters by a narrow margin defeat a $2.5 million Proposition 2 ½ override, the Salem News reports.
Juliette Kayyem talks about the governor’s race with Boston Herald Radio.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wins his Republican primary, in a sign that the tea party targeting of establishment figures has its limits.
EDUCATION
A Reclaim Our Schools coalition launches a movement in Lynn, with speakers raising concerns about standardized testing and inadequate funding, the Item reports.
About 700 Mattapoisett residents signed a petition urging officials to reverse a decision to hold classes on Good Friday next year.
Brockton teachers and students argued against layoffs before the School Committee as officials struggle to close a $5.7 million budget gap.
Boston schools interim superintendent John McDonough is getting high marks, but insists he’s not a candidate for the permanent position.
HEALTH CARE
The Globe reports on gubernatorial rivals’ reaction to the deal Attorney General Martha Coakley struck with Partners HealthCare that allows the medical behemoth to acquire South Shore Hospital.
TRANSPORTATION
Quincy city councilors are pushing the MBTA to restore commuter boat service, saying the authority suspended the ferry after the wharf was damaged last fall and then arbitrarily shut it down permanently without a public hearing.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Candidates take note: Voters in New Hampshire support green energy policies and are willing to pay more to support them, write David O’Connor of ML Strategies and pollster David Paleologos.
Developers, businesses, and utility companies are trying to get ahead of climate-change effects.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Retired judge Mark Lawton and federal prosecutor Fred Wyshak parry over Patrick Lawton’s hiring at Probation, CommonWealth reports.
More email exchange information is released in the bizarre case of a Milton man who allegedly extorted a Sharon rabbi by threatening to reveal his relationship with a 16-year-old boy.
An 11–year-old boy is injured when another boy throws a “soda bomb” outside a school in Lowell, the Sun reports.
MEDIA
Dan Kennedy says the Boston Globe has been inconsistent in its disclosures concerning John Henry, who owns the newspaper, the Boston Red Sox, and 80 percent of NESN, which employs controversy-plagued announcer Jerry Remy.