Opioid Epidemic Continues As Major Issue In 2017

Looking back on 2017, the opioid epidemic was again a major issue. And there were some significant developments this year. The issue came forward right at the start of the year, during Gov. Charlie Baker's State of the State address in January, where the governor touted his administration's efforts to deal with the epidemic, including a 50 percent increase in spending on addiction services.

Gov. Baker also served as a member of the White House opioid commission, which released a report this year calling the epidemic a "national health emergency."

WBUR's Martha Bebinger and Deborah Becker, two reporters who have been covering this issue all year long, talked to Morning Edition.