Related: Boston sees spike in suspected drug overdoses
"Heroin overdose deaths surge across the state; Police and drug counselors struggle to explain reasons for recent activity" by Sarah Schweitzer and Trisha Thadani, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent December 17, 2014
Heroin and other opiate overdoses are spiking across Massachusetts, with an alarming 58 suspected deaths so far this month, the same number reported for all of November, 16 of them in one weekend, State Police said.
The deaths are being reported in urban, rural, and suburban parts of the state, baffling officials who see no clear explanation for the sudden uptick. State police said they are cataloging evidence to try to determine any “common patterns or similarities,” including the sources or composition of drugs suspected in the deaths.
“These are real lives, people who are dying,” said Colonel Tim Alben, superintendent of the State Police. “We shouldn’t be dismissive because they are illegal drug users. Deaths like these sometimes fly under the radar. If there’s one suspected Ebola case, everyone is up in arms about it, and here we have a legitimate public health” issue.
Interesting observation.
The figures include deaths that are suspected of being caused by opiates, mainly heroin, because of evidence such as needles or other parphernalia at the scene. Overdose deaths are not officially recorded until toxicology tests confirm a cause of death.
Tuesday morning, State Police said they stopped a car in Greenfield and, after an investigation, discovered that the driver, a 39-year-old man from New Bedford, possessed what is believed to be 80 bags of heroin.
Oh, I just love seeing that.
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In March, Governor Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency to combat the growing abuse of opiates, directing first responders across the state to carry Narcan, a drug that can counteract the effects of opiate overdoses, and pledging $20 million to increase treatment and recovery services.
Even with so much public attention on the issue, local law enforcement and drug abuse counselors said they have been caught off guard by the activity in recent weeks....
In Haverhill, where heroin is blamed for 22 deaths this year, residents were shocked this month by the apparent overdoses of a 36-year-old mother and 39-year-old father who were found dead by their two young children.
Related: Orphaned by Heroin in Haverhill
In New Hampshire, heroin overdose deaths have similarly spiraled....
See: Hess Express
It came to an abrupt stop.
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Related: Couple arrested in Yarmouth on heroin charges
"Overdose leads to discovery of meth lab, arrest
Police have arrested an East Windsor, Conn., homeowner for allegedly operating a lab for making the drug methamphetamine. East Windsor police responding to a report of an overdose at a home on Meadowview Drive Saturday night when they discovered the lab. They arrested and charged homeowner James Driscoll, 57, with manufacturing hallucinogenic drugs. Police also evacuated the home and called the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, State Police, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and others to the scene. Driscoll is being held on $100,000 bond and is expected to appear in Enfield Superior Court Monday. Police say the incident remains under investigation."
