Drug Overdose Uptick In Waltham: Police

WALTHAM, MA — In the past three days there were eight reported overdoses in Waltham, according to police and the Waltham Director of Public Health. A number of those overdoses needed multiple doses of Narcan, the opiate reversal drug to revive those who were overdosing. Thankfully, none of those were fatal say public health officials.

"When we see a number like this we are pretty sure that there's something bad going around so we just want people to be vigilant," said Waltham's city Social Worker and Addiction Councilor Meaghan Ritcey.

The rash in overdoses comes as more and more folks are overdosing at home, said Ritcey.

"It used to be we'd see people overdosing on the streets or on the subway or in allies or public bathrooms, but more and more we're seeing it happen at home. So we just want folks to be aware and to check on their loved ones."

Until this past weekend the number of overdoses reported to Waltham Police were very close to what they looked like last year from January to June.

"We're thinking there's a bad batch going around," said Ritcey.

In 2017 data showed Waltham Opioid Deaths on the Rise from 2012 to 2016.

Waltham saw two spikes in the number of opioid-related deaths during that time. In 2016, 15 deaths were reported, a jump from the 10 confirmed the previous two years. Before that, the number of deaths spiked from four in 2012 to nine in 2013.

In 2000, the rate of opioid-related fatal overdose was 5.8 per 100,000 people in Massachusetts, according to Department of Public Health data. By 2015, there were 23.3 fatal overdoses for every 100,000 residents.
From 2013–2014, opioids accounted for more than a quarter of all fatalities in the 18–24 age group, according to the state website. For people aged 25 to 34, opioids were responsible for more than a third of all deaths. And it rose to more than 40 percent for men in this group. In 2015, roughly two out of every three people who died from opioids were younger than 45, according to the state.

What's to be done?

Waltham has started to hold monthly Opioid Crisis 'Resource Nights' as a way to help both people who use drugs and their family members.

Ritcey said anyone looking for advice can call the health department and speak to her or just show up. Ritcey says she can provide referrals to inpatient and outpatient, help secure a Mass Health application for someone who doesn't have insurance and help give individual health referrals Monday through Friday.

And then there's the statewide Department of Public Health substance help hotline: 1-800-327-5050.

For folks who need Narcan, the drug that is available from the pharmacies, she said.

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File Photo up top by Jenna Fisher/Patch