Boston Police on Tuesday issued a group alert after BPD officers not too long ago responded to 2 deadly drug overdoses within the Hyde Park space.
“While no illegal drugs are ever considered to be safe, fentanyl or other unknown substances can be easily mixed with those illegal drugs, which can increase the risk of a fatal overdose,” Boston Police wrote within the warning to residents.
BPD mentioned it’s investigating these deadly incidents, and urged anybody with info to contact detectives at 617-343-5607 or the Boston Police Drug Control Unit at 617-343-5625. Those who need to stay nameless can name 1-800-494-TIPS or textual content ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
“The Boston Public Health Commission encourages everyone to call 9-1-1 immediately if they suspect someone has overdosed,” a BPHC spokesperson mentioned in a press release. “The Boston Public Health Commission has a number of harm-reduction applications to forestall drug overdoses, and our outreach groups usually carry Narcan to reverse overdoses.
“These services are offered through our AHOPE program, the Engagement Center, and PAATHS program,” the spokesperson added. “We continue to be grateful for the work of our outreach workers and clinicians who have successfully reversed overdoses, and we will continue to find new ways to connect our residents to vital harm reduction and treatment services.”
Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts spiked to an all-time excessive final 12 months, in keeping with state well being officers who cited the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly effective artificial opioid fentanyl as main components within the larger demise price.
There had been 2,290 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021, the state Department of Public Health reported final month. That is a file excessive for one 12 months in Massachusetts, shattering the earlier peak of two,110 deaths in 2016.
The price of opioid-related overdose deaths jumped 8.8% final 12 months — with an estimated 185 extra deaths in 2021 than in 2020.
Fentanyl stays a persistent think about opioid-related overdose deaths throughout the state. Preliminary information exhibits that fentanyl was current at a price of 93% when a toxicology report was out there.
BPHC’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution program trains opioid customers, households, suppliers and group organizations on how you can stop, acknowledge and intervene throughout an overdose utilizing naloxone. Providers and residents serious about overdose prevention trainings can contact the BPHC Overdose Prevention Program at 617-534-7842 or go to www.boston.gov/restoration.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”