Worcester DA Discusses Veterans And The Opioid Epidemic

SHREWSBURY, MA—Via Office of District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr. Congressman Jim McGovern and Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. hosted a roundtable discussion on veterans and the opioid epidemic at Shrewsbury’s Veterans Inc. on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

McGovern and Early organized the event to bring stakeholders together from the local to the federal level to address the problem of opioid addiction as it affects the veteran community.

“One in four veterans prescribed opioids becomes addicted,” McGovern said in a statement. “We have to approach this comprehensively and be willing to think outside the box and tear down old stigmas.”

The panel of experts discussed that veterans – many of whom suffer chronic pain or deal with mental health issues from their service – are particularly susceptible to addiction. Statistics show veterans are twice as likely to die from an accidental overdose to prescription painkillers as the general population.

“We all must have compassion in addressing this epidemic,” Early said. “We need to remove stigma, work together and share our successes to beat this problem, and never underestimate the power of prevention.”

More than 100 veterans, veterans’ agents, substance use disorder experts and local legislators were in attendance.

The roundtable discussion included the following panelists: Kathryn Power from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; the Executive Director of Veterans Inc. Denis Leary; Director for the VA of Central Western Massachusetts John Collins; Dr. Olivera Bogunovic from McLean Hospital; Commissioner of Health and Human Services for the City of Worcester Dr. Matilde Castiel; Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena; and Paul Prentiss, a Probation Office and Veterans Liaison.

Photos via Worcester DA's office