Opiate addiction crosses all sectors, Mass. Senate panel is told

WEBSTER State Sen. Jennifer L. Flanagan, D-Leominster, has traveled the state over the last few weeks hearing people talk about addiction. She intends to file a budget request by the end of the month to fund prevention and treatment.

Ms. Flanagan, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options, has heard recurring themes: Prescription painkillers such as Vicodin and Percocet are prescribed too freely after minor procedures such as wisdom teeth extractions; there aren't enough treatment beds available; and opioid pills and heroin are deadlier and reaching a younger population than ever before.

On Tuesday, Ms. Flanagan was at Webster Town Hall at a listening session hosted by state Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. The hearing was attended largely by public safety officials from southern Worcester County towns.

Ms. Flanagan said afterward that she heard more from this session's participants about emergency medical services, schools and the entire spectrum dealing with addiction. And she hoped that legislative remedies could target money to small towns that lacked extensive school or community resources or transportation for people to get to treatment.

Judge Timothy M. Bibaud spoke of one area that will distinguish the region soon a drug court at Dudley District Court in which people arrested on narcotics charges will face intensive supervision. The drug court is expected to start May 15.

"This is a scourge right now we're seeing at the Dudley Court," Judge Bibaud said.

The court sees at least one person a week charged with possessing large amounts of OxyContin or other opioids, he said. Overdoses occur every few weeks.

Three to five parents come in each day with what he described as a "deer in the headlights" look, trying to commit their children for addiction treatment under Section 35. The addicts typically end up in Framingham State Prison or Bridgewater State Hospital because treatment beds aren't available.

"It's everybody. It's Nichols College. It's college kids in Worcester. It's a disease," the judge said.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said southern Worcester County has had eight overdose deaths in recent months. The spike in deaths is fueled by people turning to heroin, which costs just $7 or $8 a bag, when pill supplies are restricted or the price is too high.

View original post here:
Opiate addiction crosses all sectors, Mass. Senate panel is told