State Doctors' Group To Meet On Addiction Crisis

The state's growing heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis is getting the attention of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

The group representing more than 24,000 physicians will devote its annual Public Health Leadership forum to the opioid epidemic. The meeting will be held in Waltham on Wednesday with topics expected to include overdose prevention and the safe prescription of pain medication.

Michael Botticelli, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, is among scheduled speakers.

State police reported 217 suspected heroin overdose deaths in the first three months of this year. Those figures did not include the state's three largest cities: Boston, Worcester and Springfield.

An opioid abuse task force created by Gov. Charlie Baker met at the Statehouse last week and is expected to make recommendations later this year.