Variety of Mass. opioid overdose deaths hits new file in 2022

Well being

Greater than 2,300 folks in Massachusetts died from opioid-related overdoses in 2022, a 2.5% improve from the earlier 12 months. Black and Hispanic folks had been significantly affected.

The variety of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts elevated by 2.5% in 2022, surpassing the earlier peak for essentially the most ever recorded within the state. 

A complete of two,357 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths had been recorded for 2022, up from the two,300 recorded in 2021, based on semiannual knowledge launched by the Division of Public Well being. The variety of deaths recorded in 2021 was additionally a file on the time. 

The variety of opioid-related overdose deaths amongst Black and Hispanic folks rose considerably in 2022. The loss of life fee of non-Hispanic Black residents elevated by 42%, from 36.4 to 51.7 deaths per 100,000 residents from 2021 to 2022. The loss of life fee of Hispanic residents elevated by 16%, from 39.1 to 45.5 deaths per 100,000 residents. 

Non-Hispanic Black males had the very best opioid-related overdose loss of life fee amongst males in any racial or ethnic group, with a 41 p.c improve from 2021 to 2022. 

“Too many Massachusetts households, significantly households of colour, have been impacted by this disaster, and to be able to successfully reply, we have to tackle the gaps within the system by advancing long-term options that embrace housing, jobs, psychological well being care and extra sources for our cities and cities,” Gov. Maura Healey mentioned in a press release. 

Locations like Gloucester, Haverhill, Norton, Salem, and Taunton skilled notable decreases in opioid-related overdose deaths, whereas locations corresponding to Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, Springfield, Waltham, Weymouth, and Worcester skilled notable will increase. 

Preliminary knowledge from this 12 months may provide a glimpse of hope. Within the first three months of 2023, there have been 522 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, a 7.7% lower from the identical time interval in 2022. 

The general opioid overdose loss of life fee in Massachusetts rose dramatically from 2013 to 2016, earlier than lowering barely from 2016 to 2019. They’ve been rising progressively since. 

State officers are specializing in rising the provision of naloxone, which is used to reverse overdoses. Massachusetts has already exceeded federal naloxone “saturation” targets, and plans to maintain increasing entry, based on Healey’s workplace. 

The DPH has distributed nearly 300,000 naloxone kits since 2020 to locations like hurt discount packages, therapy suppliers, group well being facilities, and emergency departments. Distribution of naloxone has elevated about 40% every year, officers mentioned. 

The DPH is spending much more cash on naloxone. It invested $2.9 million within the drug in 2018, and that rose to $7 million in 2022. 

Earlier this 12 months, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration authorised over-the-counter gross sales of Narcan, a nasal spray that’s the best-known type of naloxone. A statewide standing order continues to induce retail pharmacies to dispense naloxone and not using a prescription. 

Fentanyl, a particularly potent artificial opioid generally combined with avenue medication, continues to have an outsized impression on overdose deaths in Massachusetts. Final 12 months, fentanyl was current in 93% of the opioid‐associated overdoses deaths the place a toxicology display screen was additionally obtainable, based on DPH knowledge. Cocaine was current in 53% and alcohol was current in 28%. 

Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, is posing a rising danger to residents. Though it’s meant for use as a veterinary sedative, xylazine is as an alternative being combined into different avenue medication. Xylazine was current in 5% of Massachusetts overdose deaths final 12 months. 

Lately, dozens of states have handed and enacted laws that will increase penalties for people who give fentanyl to somebody that then dies from it. 

“We’re falling again on these actually cozy, simple law-and-order options regardless of the truth that they didn’t work earlier than, they’re not working now, and there’s rising proof telling us they’re making issues worse,” Jennifer Carroll, a medical anthropologist at North Carolina State College, instructed The New York Instances. 

In comparison with these different states, Massachusetts officers mentioned this week that they’re persevering with to deal with making medication much less harmful and stopping overdose deaths. 

“We perceive that to handle the opioid disaster, we have to prioritize overdose loss of life prevention whereas concurrently investing in complete helps for these coping with substance use dysfunction, to make sure they’ve each alternative for restoration,” Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Kate Walsh mentioned in a press release. “We now have to lean into the disparities we see in impacts on Black residents and goal our interventions accordingly. Challenges like housing, starvation, and accessing schooling, behavioral well being therapy and transportation must be addressed in live performance with substance use therapy to be able to flip the tide of this epidemic.”