State reports drop in overdose deaths so far this year

FRANKLIN, Mass. — For years, fatal drug overdoses have been rising in Massachusetts. But the state reports that in the first nine months of 2022, overdose deaths actually fell — but not by much.

From January to September, the state recorded 1,696 overdose deaths. That’s about 25 fewer than the same period last year, which translates to a 1.5% drop. The fact there was any reduction is fairly remarkable because, as the state notes, illicit fentanyl is everywhere.

“I think any time we see a decrease, we want to celebrate that,” said Jennifer Knight-Levine, Executive Director of the SAFE Coalition in Franklin. “Many of us have been working in this field for years and we’ve seen the numbers increase as time has gone on. Any decrease should be celebrated.”

Tempering the celebration — the fact overdose deaths rose substantially last year in Massachusetts — up more than 9% over 2020.

“Considering that we’ve done a lot already, the fact that death rates are not dropping even further is of concern,” said Joji Suzuki, MD, director of the Division for Addiction Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It demonstrates that we still have a lot of work left.”

In addition, Suzuki said harm due to other substances is rising — especially from alcohol.

“If you look at the different substances that are in the systems of those who actually had a fatal overdose, the proportion of those with alcohol has been steadily climbing,” he said. “We already know that alcohol use spiked during COVID-19. That unfortunately continues, as well.”

Still, something may be working to lower the overdose numbers — albeit slowly.

“Massachusetts has really been leaning into a ‘harm reduction’ model,” said Knight-Levine. ”They have allowed for more Narcan to be available to the community, they’ve aided medication assisted treatment programs to be developed in communities and they’ve given many providers, like nurse practitioners, the opportunity to meet with individuals more freely than they were before.”

The ‘harm reduction’ model has also allowed organizations such as the SAFE Coalition to go on the offensive against drug overdoses — by providing Narcan and fentanyl test strips, free of charge.

The waning pandemic may also be helping ease the most dire consequences of opioid use.

“As folks are coming out of their homes, they have more access to treatment programs, to evening support groups, to peer support programs,” said Knight-Levine. At the same time, many organizations also kept virtual options open — thus enabling a deeper reach into the substance use disorder community.

But there’s no doubt Massachusetts residents will continue to die from drug overdoses — many, because they can’t access help.

“Year after year, we still continue to see that only a tiny proportion, maybe 10%, 20% or fewer of individuals with substance use disorder actually receive any kind of treatment in that given year,” Suzuki said. “And this number has not budged at all. Health care systems need to take ownership and responsibility for treating substance use disorders as a public health issue. And not just as a criminal justice issue or a moral failing.”

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