Tuesday, December 13, 2016

A Deadly Problem


"Massachusetts is currently experiencing an epidemic of opioid-related overdose and death.

These overdoses are driven by the underlying chronic disease of opioid addiction or opioid use disorders. People with opioid addiction are at high risk of overdose and death.

Opioid-related deaths in the state were more than four times higher in 2015 than in 2000. This recent rate of increase is several times faster than anything seen here before. In 2013–2014 alone, opioid-related deaths occurred in two-thirds of the cities and towns in Massachusetts.

The opioid-related death rate in Massachusetts has surpassed the national average, with an especially sharp rise in the last two years.

In fact, 2014 marked the first year since 1999 that the fatal overdose rate in the Bay State was more than double the national average. 
While opioid-related deaths have been on the rise across the country during that period, the situation in the Commonwealth has become especially worrying. 
In one way or another — through deaths, nonfatal overdoses, or disruptions to jobs, marriages, families, and neighborhoods — every community in Massachusetts has been impacted by this growing crisis."

http://www.mass.gov/chapter55/#top


The map is interactive and I grabbed a screenshot highlighting the Franklin details.

Average Annual Opioid-related Death Rate per 100,000 People - focus on Franklin
Average Annual Opioid-related Death Rate per 100,000 People - focus on Franklin

The SAFE Coalition also recently annouced the introduction of a hotline. If you or someone you know needs help for substance use disorder, please call 

http://safecoalitionma.com/2016/11/13/344/
SAFE Coalition hotline


If you want to make a year ending tax contribution, you can help S.A.F.E/ Coalition and their efforts to fight this deadly problem.
http://safecoalitionma.com/donate/


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