Medford Overcoming Addiction Vigil Sunday

MEDFORD, MA - Medford Overcoming Addiction is having a second annual vigil on Sunday, April 17th at 6 p.m. in Medford High School's Caron Auditorium.

The vigil is to remember those lost to addiction and raise awareness for those struggling.

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 31 opioid-related overdose deaths in Medford during that time span. Ten deaths were recorded in 2012, nine in 2013, and 12 in 2014.

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From 2000-2014, Middlesex County has seen 1,634 opioid-related deaths, 238 of which were recorded in 2014.

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

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.