13

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, December 6, 2019 Page 13 Massachusetts opioid-related overdose deaths fall six percent O pioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts continue to decline, falling an estimated 6 percent in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018, according to preliminary data released on November 25 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Between January and September of 2019, there were 1,460 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts, 99 fewer than the 1,559 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in the first nine months of 2018, the new quarterly opioid report shows. The decline in opioid-related overdose deaths is occurring despite the continued presence of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl, which has risen to an all-time high. In the first six months of 2019, fentanyl was present in 93 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths where there was a toxicology screen, up from 89 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths where there was a toxicology screen in 2018. “Today’s report affirms that our multipronged approach to the opioid epidemic is making a difference,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Although we’ve made progress, we must continue to focus our law enforcement efforts on getting fentanyl off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods.” “Behind these quarterly data are real people and families in communities across the state whose lives are impacted by addiction,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We remain invested in proven strategies across the spectrum of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery to help individASKS | from page 12 ty. I took care of the dogs and went back on the road and answered the calls. I’d go to Town Hall, check mail and check notifications and go to the Police Department for notifications. I had to cover the whole town – all day, every day. Q: When you started out, were you a tougher enforcer of the animal control laws? A: Yes. Not rough, because I was trying to work with people. And I used to tell people, “If I’m back three times, you have a problem, so you shouldn’t have a problem.” Q: And you maintained that approach over the course of your career? uals struggling with addiction and support local community efforts.” The report found that the rate of heroin (or likely heroin) present in opioid-related overdose deaths has been declining since 2014 – while the percentage of opioid-related overdose deaths where prescription drugs were present has remained stable since 2017. In the second quarter of 2019, approximately 13 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths had prescription opioids present in a toxicology screen. “By continuing to expand behavioral health access and provide additional resources for high-risk communities and for the highest risk individuals, we will make steady progress,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. A significant finding in the report concerns the number of Schedule II prescription drugs and the utilization of the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT) of the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to limit the number of days for Schedule II opioid prescriptions and to mandate the use of the PMP prior to writing a prescription. These findings include: • In the third quarter of 2019, there were just over 500,000 Schedule II opioid prescriptions reported to the PMP, which is just over a 40 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2015. • In the third quarter of 2019, registered MassPAT providers conducted more than 2.2 million searches, which represented an increase of approximately 200,000 searches since the previous quarter. • Just over 227,000 individuals in Massachusetts received A: Correct. If I am back more than three times, I have a problem. You try to work with people, but a lot of people don’t understand their responsibility. Barking dogs is another thing – neighbor vs. neighbor. Those are very difficult cases to handle, because they can wind up hating each other. And I would tell people, “If you call me, I will knock on the door to let you know it’s me.” And they would ask who complained, because they have a right to know who complained. I said I would come by and keep an eye on the area, because if it’s not confirmed by a police officer, you have to keep an eye on the area. There are always tactics with everything. Q: Did you ever get threatprescriptions for Schedule II opioids in the third quarter of 2019, which is nearly a 42 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2015. • The new opioid report is accompanied by two new sections – one on opioid or benzodiazepine use in mothers during pregnancy and substance exposure in newborns, and the other on acute opioid-related hospital Emergency Department (ED) visits by gender and age compared to all ED visits. Some highlights from these reports include: • Between 2016 and 2019 in Massachusetts overall, 1.85 percent of mothers used opioids or benzodiazepines during pregnancy and 1.72 percent of infants were exposed to one of these substances in the mother’s womb. • Between January and September of 2019, the percentages of acute opioid- and heroinrelated ED visits among men were more than twice those of women. Individuals between 25 and 44 years old experienced the highest number of opioid-related ED visits. “The release of this latest data indicates that our public health-centered approach to the opioid epidemic is working,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD. MPH. “As we move forward, we will build on this success by continuing to focus on the widespread availability of naloxone, behavioral and medication treatments, and sustained recovery services.” Other findings of the new opioid report include: • In the first six months of 2019, the greatest number of suspected opioid-related incidents treated by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) continened? A: Oh yeah. I had a guy riding on a motorcycle who would point his hand like this to me, making a gun-like gesture. Yeah, I’ve gotten that. I’ve had people where I had to put their dog down, and they said, “You like this. You like this. I will get back at you” and those types of things. Q: Did anyone ever follow through on the threats? A: There’s one woman…I went after her because a neighbor was having trouble with a pit bull trying to get at her kids, and I was at her house, wrote up violations and took her to court. So, I was at home. She must have found out where I lived. And she was at the top of the hill. And we were just Santa’s helpers at the firehouse Michele Wendell (center), administrative assistant at the Saugus Fire Department, gets help from Ava and Mia Newbury in decorating the Christmas tree at the Fire Department’s Central Station on Hamilton Street. Ava and Mia are the daughters of Fire Chief Michael Newbury. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) ued to be among males aged 25-34, accounting for 24 percent of opioid-related incidents with a known age and gender. • Males comprise 74 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths. The Baker-Polito Administration, in collaboration with the Legislature, has doubled spending to address the opioid crisis and increased capacity by more than 1,200 treatment beds, including more than 800 adult substance misuse treatsitting there and enjoying ourselves by the poolside, and all of a sudden, a couple eggs come flying over the fence. And I tried to catch the car, and the car took off. Q: So, they threw eggs at you? A: Yeah, they threw eggs. Q: Did you get hit? A: No. It’s just people who are nuts who are trying to get back. And me, I’m not the type of person to take it personally. I’m just doing my job the best I can. Like I said, you have to deal with the public the best you can. Q: So you have a lot more friends than foes over the course of your career? A: Exactly. Even the ones that I did write violations for…they ment beds at different treatment levels. In addition, the Administration is investing nearly $220 million over five years from the federally approved 1,115 Medicaid waiver, which began in fiscal year 2018, to meet the needs of individuals with addictions and/or cooccurring disorders. The FY20 budget builds on the progress to date by investing $246 million across several state agencies to address substance misuse prevention and treatment. apologized, shook my hand and said, “Thank you.” And they say “Hi” to me to this day. That’s pretty rewarding in itself, too. Q: And you’ve had some interaction with the town fathers [officials]? A: Yes, I did, but not many of them – I think one. It was just a warning type of deal. And to do that against your own boss is kind of a hard thing to do. Actually, one of them kind of chuckled last night [at Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting]. Q: You’re talking about one of the current selectmen? A: Yeah. Actually, it was a barking dog situation, but what’s right is right. If they’re ASKS | SEE PAGE 15

14 Publizr Home