Opioid Deaths Continue to Rise in Stoughton

STOUGHTON, MA - Fatal opioid-related overdoses in Massachusetts have doubled since 2010.

According to new data released by the state’s Department of Public Health, opioid-related deaths went up statewide for the fourth year in a row and over 1,000 for the first time. In 2014, there were 1,099 confirmed deaths, with that number possibly increasing to 1,173 once the year’s cases are finalized.

The projected number is good news, as it is lower than a previous projection from August. Initially, the department projected 1,256 deaths.

The number is a substantial increase from 2010 when there were 526 deaths. From January to September 2015, there were 719 confirmed deaths, according to preliminary data. The department only reports data for months where at least 80 percent of deaths have a final recorded cause of death.

More often than not, men were the victim during the first nine months of 2015, with 76 cases involving a male death. In 187 cases, the victim was female.

Statewide, the rate of opioid deaths has more than doubled from eight per 10,000 residents in 2010 to an estimated 17.4 in 2014.

Locally, Stoughton continues to feel the effects of the epidemic. In 2012, four people in town died from an overdose. Two years later, nine residents lost their lives to opioids.

According to WCVB, Stoughton has seen the ninth most opioid deaths per capita for towns in Massachusetts with over 10,000 residents.

In an attempt to fight the epidemic, Attorney General Maura Healey recently announced the creation of a task force led by her office to investigate and prosecute prescribers, pharmacists and others who illegally prescribe or dispense pills.

Click here to see statistics from the Massachusett Department of Health.

Photo Credit: Mass. DPH