BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released updated data on opioid-related deaths across the state on Wednesday, June 8, showing an increase in 2021 and a smaller decrease in the first quarter of 2022.
DPH said there were 2,290 opioid-related deaths in 2021, an estimated 185 more than 2020, an increase of 8.8%.
In the first three quarters of 2022, there were 551 opioid-related deaths across Massachusetts, 24 fewer than the same period in 2021. That represents a 4% decrease.
All reported deaths include both confirmed and estimated cases. Of those, 2,234 were confirmed.
Fentanyl continues to play a large role in opioid-related deaths, with 93% of cases where a toxicology report was available showing the drug present. The presence of fentanyl has increased around 1% per quarter since 2016.
In 2021, the opioid-related overdose death rate in Massachusetts increased to 32.6 per 100,000 people as compared to 29.9 per 100,000 in the prior year. The rate of death by race, ethnic group, and gender remained relatively stable, with small decreases in the Black non-Hispanic and Asian/ Pacific Islander and a small increase in white non-Hispanic and Hispanic populations.
American Indian/ Alaskan Native residents statistically has the highest opioid-related overdoes death rate, with 118.6 per 100,000. That represented just 12 of the 2,234 confirmed deaths.
In cases where a toxicology report was available, the presence of other drugs found were:
- Cocaine – 51%
- Benzodiazepines – 31%
- Alcohol – 29%
- Prescription Opioids – 13%
- Heroin – 10%
Other findings listed in the report:
- The confirmed opioid-related overdose death rate for all Black non-Hispanic residents fell from 37.5 to 35.1 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2021. The death rate for Asian/Pacific Islander non-Hispanic residents was relatively constant, going from 3.4 per 100,000 in 2020 to 3.3 per 100,000 in 2021.
- Both white non-Hispanic and Hispanic residents experienced death rate increases, with white non-Hispanic rates rising from 33.8 to 35.9 per 100,000 and Hispanic rates from 35.4 to 38 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2021.
- Males comprise 73% of all opioid-related overdose deaths occurring in 2021.
- 50% of opioid-related deaths occurred in people who were between 25 and 44 years old, compared to 5% of all deaths
- 41% were between 45 and 64 years old, compared to 17% of all deaths
- In 2021, males ages 25-34 once again represented the greatest number, accounting for 21% of suspected opioid-related incidents with a known age and sex treated by Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
- Naloxone was administered in 96% of acute opioid overdoses occurring in 2021. Of all opioid-related EMS incidents in 2021, 55.3% were categorized as acute opioid overdoses.
