Crime & Safety
Opioid Epidemic: How Hard has Brockton Been Hit?
A look at opioid-related overdose statistics in Brockton.
BROCKTON, 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 24 confirmed opioid-related overdose deaths in Brockton during that time span. Nine deaths were recorded in 2012 and 27 were recorded 2013,
Find out what's happening in Brocktonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From the year 2000-2014, Plymouth County has seen 694 opioid-related deaths, 97 of which were recorded in 2014 alone.
Middlesex County has had the most opioid-related deaths out of any county in the Commonwealth between 2000 and 2014.
Find out what's happening in Brocktonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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.
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