Only 8.3 percent of those who died had a prescription for an opioid drug

Most overdose deaths in Mass. caused by illegal drugs

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/09/15/most-overdose-deaths-massachusetts-caused-illegal-drugs/gPFUwRrRzSF3qGlXfP3VEK/story.html

Drugs obtained illegally were the main killers of the 2,212 people who died of overdoses in 2013 and 2014 in Massachusetts, according to a report from state health officials issued Thursday.

Only 8.3 percent of those who died had a prescription for an opioid drug, while 85 percent had taken heroin or fentanyl. This finding shows that the drugs that kill usually come from the street.

Fulfilling a legislative mandate, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health analyzed its data along with data from other government agencies to produce the report, available online at http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/stop-addiction/chapter-55-overdose-assessment.html.

9 Responses

  1. Thank you!!

  2. […] Only 8.3 percent of those who died had a prescription for an opioid drug […]

  3. […] when it comes to finally admitting that legal opiates and OD… have little in common..  Only 8.3 percent of those who died had a prescription for an opioid drug Where is a recent article from the BOSTON GLOBE that stated that ONLY 8.3% of the people ODing on […]

  4. […] There was a recent article in the Boston Globe…  Only 8.3 percent of those who died had a prescription for an opioid drug […]

  5. This is the research the CDC should be doing.
    Yay Massachusetts

  6. Even though the U.S. may use the most prescription pain meds many people in pain do not trust doctors or doctors refused to manage their pain .The people with the prescription pain medication may very well have not had pain managed enough and had to resource to street drugs . Laws for prescription pain meds where always pretty harsh . I believe a lot of people would not die if the war on drugs would end .

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