Mass. Health Officials, Doctors To Strategize Ways To Curb Opioid Crisis

Health officials and clinicians from around the state meet in Boston Friday to find ways to curb opioid crisis and the abuse of prescription pain medications.

Dr. Daniel Alford, of the Boston Unviersity Medical School, says prescribers must be more careful with patients receiving opioids.

"Believe their pain, be empathic about their suffering, but then treat them based on your assessment of both risk and potential benefit," he said.

Last spring, Gov. Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency in response to the opioid crisis.