DA: 33 Overdose Deaths In Middlesex County Since Last Month
WOBURN, Mass. (CBS/AP) — Middlesex County officials are reporting 33 overdose deaths since last month.
State police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's office have responded to more than 20 fatal overdoses in the past three weeks, along with a number of non-fatal overdoses. Of the 33 fatal overdoses, 19 of them have been heroin-related, officials say.
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On Friday, District Attorney Marian Ryan and Mike Duggan, founder of the group Wicked Sober, plan to issue a "call for action" in response to the recent surge in overdoses. Wicked Sober helps people trying to recover from drug and alcohol dependency.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation last month to fight the opioid addiction crisis. The new law includes a seven-day limit on first-time prescriptions for opiate painkillers and requires that people treated for overdoses in hospital emergency rooms be evaluated and given treatment options within 24 hours.
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