Opioid Epidemic: How Hard has Arlington Been Hit?

ARLINGTON, MA—The opioid epidemic has taken the state by storm, and legislators on both the local and state levels have been taking action to fight back against the disease of addiction.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's most recent data which accounts for opioid-related overdose deaths from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2014, there were 12 opioid-related overdose deaths in Arlington during that time span. Five deaths were recorded in 2014, the most of any year during that span.

“One overdose or death is one too many,” Chief Fredrick Ryan said in a January statement. “However, thanks to the aggressive deployment of Narcan and rapid police response, we have been able to make a difference, giving suffering people another opportunity to retake their lives. There is no recovery from death, but there is recovery from addiction. We are very proud of our progress, but we acknowledge that much work remains in combating this epidemic.”

Arlington Police reported earlier this year that first responders used Narcan 29 times to reverse potentially fatal opioid overdoses in 2015. Additionally, Narcan was also administered by friends and family of overdose victims six times.

Arlington Police reported five overdose-related deaths in 2015.

From the year 2000-2014, Middlesex County has seen 1,634 opioid-related deaths, 238 of which were recorded in 2014 alone. The 2014 figure breaks down to an average of 4.4 opioid-related deaths per city and town in the county.

Middlesex County has had the most opioid-related deaths out of any county in the Commonwealth between 2000 and 2014.

On March 14, Governor Charlie Baker inked an opioid abuse prevention bill into law that helps prevent potential addiction before it begins, as well as establish limits on painkiller prescriptions. Baker also added that more legislation is on the way for Massachusetts.