opioid abuse

The annual drug take-back program a month ago has yielded 44 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs at 580 collection sites across New England. The Drug Enforcement Administration said it's estimated that 10 percent of the drugs were opioid pain killers...

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office is working with inmates at the House of Correction to better educate them about the dangers of opioid abuse and treatment services available. Sheriff Thomas Hodgson says all inmates will be provided information, including those inmates released on bail or those going back in the community...

A group of New Bedford area health professionals will be taking part in a town hall forum Wednesday night that will focus on the region's ongoing opioid crisis.

Legislation aimed at encouraging police departments to help heroin addicts seek treatment instead of jail has passed the U.S. House. The legislation was supported by Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and inspired by a program pioneered by the Gloucester Police Department...

Congressman William Keating of Massachusetts is pushing legislation that would require all doctors in the Veterans Administration system to undergo pain medication education to lessen the over-prescribing of medication for seriously injured veterans...

Boston (AP) - Republican Gov. Charlie Baker is calling on federal health officials to play a bigger role in the battle against opioid abuse. Baker told reporters Monday that the federal government should require more opioid education as part of the curriculum in dental, medical and nursing schools...

(Boston) AP - House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a final version of a bill designed to address the state's deadly opioid addiction crisis. The bill would limit initial opiate painkiller prescriptions to a seven-day supply and set an evaluation requirement within 24 hours for overdose victims seeking help at hospital emergency rooms...

Gov. Charlie Baker hailed what he called the spirit of bipartisanship on Beacon Hill as he detailed some of his goals for the new year in his first State of the State address. The Republican governor spoke for about 25 minutes to a joint session of the Legislature _ overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats _ and a statewide television audience Thursday evening...

(Associated Press) - Massachusetts cities and towns can begin purchasing the overdose reversal drug naloxone at a discounted rate. Attorney General Maura Healey made the announcement Wednesday, at the start of the holiday season. Healey said the holidays are traditionally a time when overdose rates have spiked...

Gov. Charlie Baker's opioid abuse bill takes center stage at a public hearing on Beacon Hill this week. Baker's bill would restrict patients to a three-day supply of painkillers the first time they're prescribed an opioid drug, or when they receive a prescription from a new doctor...