Sudders, Bharel Discuss Release Of 2015 Opioid Death Numbers

There is still no sign that Massachusetts' opioid epidemic is slowing.

New numbers released Monday show that 1,379 people died from unintentional opioid overdoses in the state in 2015. And that number is expected to top 1,500 once all death investigations are complete.

The data also show that more than half of the deaths last year involved the potent painkiller Fentanyl, which is sometimes mixed with heroin.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel joined WBUR's All Things Considered to discuss the crisis.

The numbers the state released provide real-time information, they told us. Bharel also said the data help officials understand who is most affected by the opioid epidemic.