GREENFIELD – As the number of drug overdose deaths in the Commonwealth continues to rise, the Opioid Crisis Working Group created by Governor Charlie Baker will hold a public session to listen to the community and gather feedback and ideas on the best ways to halt the epidemic. It will be held Thursday, March 19 from 4-6 p.m. in the dining common at Greenfield Community College.
“In order to formulate solutions, we need to understand the depth of this devastating problem that is affecting families, friends and neighbors across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services and Chair of the Working Group Marylou Sudders. “This session will give us a chance to hear directly from those most impacted by this issue.”
Baker announced the 17-member working group on February 19. The group is comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experience related to prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery and support and law enforcement. By the end of May, the group will submit a statewide strategy to combat opioid addiction and curb overdose deaths.
“In 2013, there were 978 opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts—that’s a 46 percent jump from the previous year,” said Dr. Monica Bharel, commissioner of the Department of Public Health who is also a member of the group. “The answer will not be simple. But we must assemble the best thinking on this quickly and act swiftly to avoid further loss of life.”
“We have mobilized and created an enormous amount of awareness about this issue in our region,” said Franklin County Sheriff Chris Donelan who serves as co-chair of the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region. “But we cannot let our guard down or rest thinking we have succeeded. This is still a crisis. We look forward to collaborating with the Governor’s Working Group to build upon and bolster our local efforts.”
About 400 people turned out for the first public dialogue held in Worcester on March 10. After the Greenfield event, members of the group travel to Memorial Hall in Plymouth on March 26 from 4-6 p.m. and then to Boston at Gardner Auditorium in the State House on April 2 from 3-5 p.m. For those who cannot attend, an email box has been set up to collect comments at [email protected]. For a list of Working Group members or more information about the public dialogues or the Working Group’s meetings visit www.mass.gov/opioids.
