Addiction and the overdose crisisOur ongoing coverage of addiction, opioids and the broader overdose crisis in Massachusetts.Study: 42% of American adults know someone who died from an overdoseAn estimated 42% of adults in the U.S. — roughly 125 million people — know at least one person who has died of a drug overdose, according to a RAND...ResumeHealth03:55Feb 21, 2024Mass. set to receive another $8 million in opioid settlement money, AG Campbell saysState Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said the funds are part of a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health, a marketing firm that worked for opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma.HealthFeb 1, 2024Boston dedicates small portion of opioid settlement funds to grieving familiesBoston's first distribution of opioid settlement funds will go to families who've lost a member to an overdose. Initial grants for funerals, child care and housing are expected this summer....HealthJan 29, 2024Some parents say Mass. needs overdose prevention centersSome grieving parents who’ve become leaders in the drug overdose crisis called on Massachusetts lawmakers to allow overdose prevention or supervised consumption sites in the state. They are angry that...HealthJan 26, 2024Some N.H. residents want better answers from 2024 candidates on the opioid crisisDrug overdose deaths in New Hampshire have increased in recent years, and some residents want to hear more from the presidential candidates about how they'd help.HealthJan 17, 2024AdvertisementMass. cities, towns cautious or confused about how to spend millions in opioid settlement fundsMoney from the settlement of opioid-related lawsuits is pouring into Massachusetts. The state has set spending priorities and is awarding grants. But most municipalities haven't spent any of the more...HealthDec 29, 2023A story years in the making: At-home overdose preventionWBUR's Martha Bebinger wanted to write about home-based supervised consumption for many years. She keeps hearing from parents, siblings, partners and kids who do it but wouldn't talk about it....HealthDec 15, 2023Mass. Health Dept. says state needs controversial overdose prevention centersA report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health endorses overdose prevention centers where staff are on hand, if needed, to revive clients who use drugs. The report was released...HealthDec 13, 2023Fatal overdoses in Massachusetts remain at grim record highsIn Massachusetts, there’s no let up in the pace of deaths after a drug overdose. A state report out Wednesday showed the rate is expected to hold steady through the...HealthDec 13, 2023Why a mom turned to supervising illegal opioid use at her homeIn Renae's backyard, people she loves trust that they can use drugs without fear of being raped, robbed or dying after an overdose. Renae keeps watch and revives people, if...ResumeHealth16:12Dec 12, 2023The tents are gone from 'Mass. and Cass,' but concerns about care remainIn the month since city workers cleared a large tent encampment near Boston's South End, the streets remain tent-free. Several law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort to keep...ResumeLocal Coverage03:52Dec 5, 2023Overdose deaths rose among pregnant people, postpartum parentsThe study's authors say their findings have "profound implications for the way we discourage, directly or indirectly, women from seeking [substance use disorder] care during pregnancy."HealthNov 22, 2023'I landed on love': Families try a different approach to addictionThe success of addiction treatment often depends on the person struggling. But there may be a crucial — and often overlooked — factor. Some experts say loved ones can play...ResumeHealth05:23Nov 20, 2023City of Boston removes tent encampment at 'Mass. and Cass'City officials said they had about 14 tents or similar structures to dismantle at the beginning of the day. At noon, a handful of people in the area remained without...ResumeHealth03:47Nov 1, 2023As Boston police prepare to remove 'Mass. and Cass' encampment, some wonder what comes nextCity workers have handed out flyers explaining Boston's plan to remove tents on Wednesday from the "Mass. and Cass" area. Despite efforts to offer services, housing and storage to people...ResumeHealth05:01Oct 31, 2023State funds Mass. hotline to reduce risk of fatal overdosesWith overdose deaths at a record high, Massachusetts is funding an overdose prevention hotline. People using drugs call a toll-free number. Staff monitor them and notify emergency responders if they...HealthSep 26, 2023Purple flags fly at Boston Common to mark Overdose Awareness DayThe Boston Common flags, along with resource tables providing information on harm reduction, addiction prevention and recovery resources, will be displayed through Sept. 4.HealthAug 31, 2023Over-the-counter Narcan will cost $45 at major retail pharmaciesThe company that makes the spray is shipping out hundreds of thousands of doses to retailers starting Wednesday, marking the first time the drug will be available without a prescription...HealthAug 30, 2023Boston officials unveil new strategy for 'Mass. and Cass'Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will give law enforcement more authority to remove tents, and add more shelter beds, as the city looks to address worsening conditions in an area that's...ResumeHealth04:54Aug 25, 2023Narcan, soon available over the counter, is covered by some but not all Mass. insurers Some health insurers in Massachusetts say they will continue coverage for Narcan when it becomes available without a prescription. Narcan, a common brand of naloxone, is used to reverse an...HealthAug 24, 2023Next Page
Study: 42% of American adults know someone who died from an overdoseAn estimated 42% of adults in the U.S. — roughly 125 million people — know at least one person who has died of a drug overdose, according to a RAND...ResumeHealth03:55Feb 21, 2024
Mass. set to receive another $8 million in opioid settlement money, AG Campbell saysState Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said the funds are part of a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health, a marketing firm that worked for opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma.HealthFeb 1, 2024
Boston dedicates small portion of opioid settlement funds to grieving familiesBoston's first distribution of opioid settlement funds will go to families who've lost a member to an overdose. Initial grants for funerals, child care and housing are expected this summer....HealthJan 29, 2024
Some parents say Mass. needs overdose prevention centersSome grieving parents who’ve become leaders in the drug overdose crisis called on Massachusetts lawmakers to allow overdose prevention or supervised consumption sites in the state. They are angry that...HealthJan 26, 2024
Some N.H. residents want better answers from 2024 candidates on the opioid crisisDrug overdose deaths in New Hampshire have increased in recent years, and some residents want to hear more from the presidential candidates about how they'd help.HealthJan 17, 2024
Mass. cities, towns cautious or confused about how to spend millions in opioid settlement fundsMoney from the settlement of opioid-related lawsuits is pouring into Massachusetts. The state has set spending priorities and is awarding grants. But most municipalities haven't spent any of the more...HealthDec 29, 2023
A story years in the making: At-home overdose preventionWBUR's Martha Bebinger wanted to write about home-based supervised consumption for many years. She keeps hearing from parents, siblings, partners and kids who do it but wouldn't talk about it....HealthDec 15, 2023
Mass. Health Dept. says state needs controversial overdose prevention centersA report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health endorses overdose prevention centers where staff are on hand, if needed, to revive clients who use drugs. The report was released...HealthDec 13, 2023
Fatal overdoses in Massachusetts remain at grim record highsIn Massachusetts, there’s no let up in the pace of deaths after a drug overdose. A state report out Wednesday showed the rate is expected to hold steady through the...HealthDec 13, 2023
Why a mom turned to supervising illegal opioid use at her homeIn Renae's backyard, people she loves trust that they can use drugs without fear of being raped, robbed or dying after an overdose. Renae keeps watch and revives people, if...ResumeHealth16:12Dec 12, 2023
The tents are gone from 'Mass. and Cass,' but concerns about care remainIn the month since city workers cleared a large tent encampment near Boston's South End, the streets remain tent-free. Several law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort to keep...ResumeLocal Coverage03:52Dec 5, 2023
Overdose deaths rose among pregnant people, postpartum parentsThe study's authors say their findings have "profound implications for the way we discourage, directly or indirectly, women from seeking [substance use disorder] care during pregnancy."HealthNov 22, 2023
'I landed on love': Families try a different approach to addictionThe success of addiction treatment often depends on the person struggling. But there may be a crucial — and often overlooked — factor. Some experts say loved ones can play...ResumeHealth05:23Nov 20, 2023
City of Boston removes tent encampment at 'Mass. and Cass'City officials said they had about 14 tents or similar structures to dismantle at the beginning of the day. At noon, a handful of people in the area remained without...ResumeHealth03:47Nov 1, 2023
As Boston police prepare to remove 'Mass. and Cass' encampment, some wonder what comes nextCity workers have handed out flyers explaining Boston's plan to remove tents on Wednesday from the "Mass. and Cass" area. Despite efforts to offer services, housing and storage to people...ResumeHealth05:01Oct 31, 2023
State funds Mass. hotline to reduce risk of fatal overdosesWith overdose deaths at a record high, Massachusetts is funding an overdose prevention hotline. People using drugs call a toll-free number. Staff monitor them and notify emergency responders if they...HealthSep 26, 2023
Purple flags fly at Boston Common to mark Overdose Awareness DayThe Boston Common flags, along with resource tables providing information on harm reduction, addiction prevention and recovery resources, will be displayed through Sept. 4.HealthAug 31, 2023
Over-the-counter Narcan will cost $45 at major retail pharmaciesThe company that makes the spray is shipping out hundreds of thousands of doses to retailers starting Wednesday, marking the first time the drug will be available without a prescription...HealthAug 30, 2023
Boston officials unveil new strategy for 'Mass. and Cass'Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will give law enforcement more authority to remove tents, and add more shelter beds, as the city looks to address worsening conditions in an area that's...ResumeHealth04:54Aug 25, 2023
Narcan, soon available over the counter, is covered by some but not all Mass. insurers Some health insurers in Massachusetts say they will continue coverage for Narcan when it becomes available without a prescription. Narcan, a common brand of naloxone, is used to reverse an...HealthAug 24, 2023