Opioid Deaths in Chelmsford for 2015: New Data Released

By Charlene Arsenault (Patch Staff)

CHELMSFORD, MA - Despite aggressive efforts to combat what is now considered an epidemic, opioid deaths continue to plague the country. Massachusetts, too, has been hit hard - in some cities and towns more than others - and deaths from opioids continue to rise.

On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) released updated 2015 and preliminary first quarter 2016 data on opioid-related overdose deaths in the state. For the first time, fentanyl and its relationship to opioid-related deaths, and also emergency transportation related to overdoses and naloxone data, are included.

According to the new data, the number of confirmed unintentional or undetermined opioid-related deaths for 2015 is 1,379. Search these numbers by town and county here.

Chelmsford saw three opioid-related deaths in 2015; there were also three deaths in 2013 and 2014 with zero deaths in 2012. 

“Since taking office, we have been committed to combatting the opioid epidemic and we’re proud to have worked with the legislature to enact landmark legislation addressing treatment, education and prevention around substance misuse,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. “As we continue the implementation of the Opioid Working Group’s recommendations, enhancing the data and ability to analyze it for communities, policy makers and medical providers is a key component and tool in continuing to fight this crisis.”

The new data also showed that more than 50 percent of the confirmed opioid-related overdoses had a positive screen for fentanyl.

Other expanded data, according to the Department of Public Health, shows:

• In-depth analysis of the remaining “undetermined” cause of death cases from 2014 and 2015 which resulted in a revised, higher total for the state’s 2014 estimated opioid-related overdose deaths. The number of confirmed opioid-related deaths for 2014 is 1,282.
• Estimates for the first three months of 2016 suggest the opioid death rate is comparable to the first quarter of 2015.
• Opioid -related EMS transport and naloxone data for 2013-2015, closely mirrors trends in the state’s opioid-related death data. In 2015, DPH estimates that EMS treated at least 11,884 opioid-related incidents and administered naloxone 12,982 times.
• County-level data from the Prescription Drug Monitoring program, and
• City and town opioid-related deaths from 2012-2015.

In June 2015, the Governor’s Opioid Working Group released 65 recommendations and an Action Plan aimed at curbing the opioid epidemic.

The updated data is available now atmass.gov/stopaddiction.