Opioid Epidemic: How Hard Has Newton Been Hit?

By JOE LIPOVICH (Patch Staff)

NEWTON, 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 Newton during that time span. The number of deaths by year are five in 2012, one in 2013 and six in 2014.

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.