Opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts increased from the enormously high numbers by 2.5 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
"Fentanyl is a highly dangerous substance that even in small amounts can lead to a fatal overdose," said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
Narcan (naloxone) is a vital opioid overdose reversal medication. Emergent BioSolutions recently lowered its price to under $50. However, it remains costly, especially for Boston hospital patients, causing some families to forgo buying Narcan. "In my own clinical practice, there have been times when families have needed to pay $30 for a copay for Narcan, and this has been too expensive for them," said Dr. Scott Hadland, an addiction specialist at Mass General for Children in Boston. Thankfully, the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution program in Massachusetts offers naloxone at no cost to layperson first responders. Over 20 sites, including several in the Boston area, provide free naloxone through this program.
Federal authorities are actively seeking a solution to tackle this crisis. President Biden introduced his National Drug Control Strategy, focusing on improving treatment accessibility, harm reduction, and combating drug trafficking.
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-01), reintroduced the Stop Fentanyl Overdoses Act, aiming to strengthen the nation's public health response to the opioid epidemic. This was announced in a press release on May 8.
In Massachusetts, data shows there were 2,357 overdose deaths in 2022. That's 57 more deaths than in 2021-- a stable way-too-high amount.
Doctor Fantegrossi urges the community to "get more information on Narcan and train to administer the life-saving medication; the manufacturers of Narcan make a great video. The more Narcan that comes into the community can help save lives, the more people that know how to use it, the more lives we can all help save."
The nation -- and Massachusetts-- need a comprehensive Plan for Fentanyl.
Robert Weiner is the former Clinton and Bush White House Drug Policy Spokesman and former spokesman for the House Narcotics Committee. He also served as a senior staffer for the House Government Operations and Judiciary committees, Congressman John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Claude Pepper and Ed Koch, Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Gen. Barry McCaffrey. Annie Cayer is a policy and research analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and Solutions for Change and an internaitonal affairs major with a minor in law and public policy at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
