
Radio Boston
Support the news
The Economic Cost Of The Opioid Crisis07:33
Play
New research out Wednesday puts a dollar value on how much the opioid epidemic is costing the Massachusetts economy.
The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates the state loses more than $2.5 billion a year in business productivity, and an additional $5.9 billion to people who couldn't work because of opioid addiction.
The study found that almost 33,000 people could not work in the last seven years because of addiction — which is a major problem when the job market is tight.
Guests
Julie Burns, executive director of RIZE Massachusetts.
J.J. Bartlett, president of Fishing Partnership Support Services. He tweets @jbart727.
This segment aired on November 14, 2018.
Related:

Deborah Becker Host/Reporter
Deborah Becker is a senior correspondent and host at WBUR. Her reporting focuses on mental health, criminal justice and education.
Support the news