In 2017, estimates of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts declined by more than 8 percent after steadily rising for the past few years, telegram.com reports.
Here are seven things to know:
1. The state Department of Public Health estimated in its latest report on the epidemic that there were 1,977 opioid-related overdose deaths last year, down 8.3 percent from 2,155 deaths in 2016.
2. The previous three years had seen deaths increase by 22 percent, 30 percent and 39 percent, respectively. The numbers are based on confirmed overdose deaths and suspected cases in which an official cause of death has not yet been determined.
3. Fentanyl's impact continues to grow; officials say the synthetic opioid was present in toxicology reports in 83 percent of the 2017 overdose deaths.
4. The report also indicated that the opioid-related mortality rate doubled for Hispanic residents during a three-year period ending in 2016: 31.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016, compared with 15.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2014.
5. Massachusetts has launched a public information campaign targeted to Latino communities, including Spanish-language T.V. spots to raise awareness about addiction and urging parents to speak with their adolescent children about opioid abuse.
6. Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill during the last legislative session to establish new rules and procedures for opioid prescription and created a new prescription monitoring program. He urges lawmakers to pass new proposals designed to facilitate access to addiction treatment and increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking.
7. According to the report, fewer Massachusetts residents are receiving opioid painkiller prescriptions: the rate declined from 390,000 in the first three months of 2015 to about 268,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017.
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