Opioid Overdoses Down 73 Percent In Malden Since 2023

Recovery coaches conduct outreach throughout the city.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 7, 2026 7:45 AM EDT

MALDEN, MA — Opioid overdoses and overdose deaths continue to decline in Malden, according to city officials, who say outreach, recovery and treatment efforts are helping connect more residents with support services.

Through July 31, Malden recorded nine overdoses and one overdose death in 2026, compared with 17 overdoses and two deaths during the same period last year. The city reported 27 overdoses and seven fatalities through July 2024 and 33 overdoses with eight fatalities during the first seven months of 2023, representing a 72.7 percent decrease in overdoses and an 87.5 percent decline in fatalities over that period. Medical aid calls related to overdoses also fell from 11 through July 2025 to four this year, according to city data.

Mayor Gary Christenson credited the progress to the Mayor's Advisory Opioid Task Force, established in 2021, and Malden Cares, a community outreach initiative led by Department of Health and Human Services Recovery Specialist Paul Hammersley. The program has helped connect more than 200 people with treatment while also assisting residents with housing, food resources, medical care, recovery coaching, and other support services.

Recovery coaches conduct outreach throughout the city, including at MBTA stations, along the Northern Strand Community Trail, and at community events. City officials expressed gratitude for support from the Bayrd Foundation, which has helped expand outreach efforts, improve access to treatment, and strengthen recovery services.

"Addressing substance use disorder requires persistence, compassion, and collaboration," Christenson said. "I am proud of the work being done by our Opioid Task Force, Malden Cares, our public safety departments, and our many community partners. While there is still much work to do, the progress we are seeing demonstrates what can happen when a community comes together to support recovery and save lives."

Hammersley said the declining overdose numbers represent more than statistics.

"One fatality is too many. Recovery happens one person, one family, and one connection at a time," Hammersley said. "The reductions in overdoses and fatalities are encouraging, but they represent much more than statistics. They represent lives saved, families kept together, and hope restored."

Malden Cares connects individuals and families affected by substance use disorder with treatment, recovery support, and other community resources through recovery coaching, street outreach, and partnerships with local organizations. City officials plan to continue expanding access to treatment, supporting residents in recovery, and reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorder.