Overdose deaths in Boston plummet 38% in one year

Boston recorded overdose deaths last year That grim tally represents a decrease year-over-year and mirrors a similar national trend Black and Latinx Boston residents specifically men experienced a and decrease respectively the Boston Citizens Strength Commission published One life lost to overdose is one life too various mentioned Dr Bisola Ojikutu Commissioner of Populace Fitness for the City of Boston But he added that community-based organizations strength centers and access to OD-reversing naloxone or Narcan all helped Boston distributed over doses of naloxone physical condition personnel stated Nationally an estimated people died from overdoses last year according to Centers for Syndrome Control and Prevention records That s down from the in the largest one-year decline ever recorded the CDC added City medical personnel stressed that unintentional drug overdose is the leading cause of early death in Boston Housing and healing were also mentioned as key factors in helping addicts climb out of addiction Every life saved from a fatal overdose shows the power of locality outlay and compassion commented Mayor Michelle Wu Not only does this details represent the impact of our collective efforts to combat the opioid dilemma but emphasizes our continued patronage to communities who are disproportionately affected The fitness assessment did not directly address the law enforcement focus on fentanyl trafficking or the Mass and Cass blight in Boston