Selected news, facts and information about Substance Addiction in Worcester Massachusetts (updated daily):
2017 News
2016 News
2015 News
2014 News
Community Perspectives
National Film and Television
Did you know? Facts and Statistics
2020 News
Post-overdose programs in Worcester, Webster lead opioid addicts toward recovery
Worcester County fighting a three-part opioid syndemic
2019 News
Rising price of naloxone restricts accessibility
Letter: Unlimited authorizations for addiction recovery services should be mandated
Worcester pharmacies stocked 49 million opioids in years leading up to crisis
2018 News
Letter: Even in victory on opioid suit, addiction fight continues
2017 News
Supervised injection sites seen as ‘roadblock to death’
Field of flags in Worcester marks Mass. overdose deaths
Casket outside Worcester City Hall a drug overdose warning
Mass. opioid deaths decline in 2017
Editorial: Injection centers: helping or enabling?
‘Something Had To Be Done’: Worcester Opioid Overdose Numbers Declining
Area law enforcement ‘take back’ prescription drugs
Opioids: a physician father’s plea
‘The Real Story Behind The Opioid Epidemic’: Expert Author Visits Worcester
Health care providers, policy race to keep up with rising opioid deaths
Hardcore realities of the opioid epidemic
Opioid death toll again hits triple digits in Worcester County
DA Joe Early on drug crisis: ‘We’ve gotta win this fight’
Dianne Williamson: Statistics hid humanity behind drug addiction
2016 News:
Recovering drug users awarded gift baskets by Worcester police
Dianne Williamson: Wall goes up to bring down stigma of addiction
Worcester forum offers tools to youth to fight opiate addiction
Volunteers are trained for addiction task force
Naloxone recall having minimal impact in Worcester
Worcester addiction counseling center hosts ‘drop-in hour’
Question 4: Health and Wellness Concerns in Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
AG Healey talks opioid crisis, praises Spectrum for doing their part
Legalizing recreational marijuana divides users, experts
Worcester Among Town Halls Planned to Discuss Opioid Epidemic Impact on Caregivers
New owner aims to spruce up Worcester’s troubled Albion
Health Foundation of Central Mass. gives $100G in fight against Question 4
Communities note trend of Gloucester’s opioid recovery program
Drug addiction screening program debuts in 2 Worcester schools
Enrollment drops at Worcester’s recovery high school
Worcester Bands Together to Fight Substance Use
City Hall forum in Worcester discusses opioid crisis
Colleges tackle workforce demands of opioid crisis
FDA approves implant for addiction treatment
Worcester Police puts resources into getting drug addicts help
Opioid overdose deaths on the rise across Massachusetts
ICYMI: How Many Opioid Deaths Occurred in Worcester Last Year? New Data Released
Central Mass. health workers, experts optimistic about effect of new opioid legislation
SubstanceFreeWorcester.org featured on Positive Impact Show, Worcester
Feds give $350k to fight opioid addiction to Family Health Center of Worcester
States like Mass. BC/BS template to cut opioid use
Opioid crisis creating nonprofit demand
Reports on homelessness, opioid use reveal extent of city’s drug crisis
Worcester Clinic Launches Site to Combat Substance Abuse
DA, police and fire departments warning public of deadly ‘Hollywood’ heroin
Despite early struggles, optimism for Worcester’s Recovery High School
Worcester announces new after-school program in 6 schools
AIDS Project Worcester plans outreach for needle exchange
AIDS Project Worcester to administer city’s needle exchange program
Sober homes face voluntary certification
Despite early struggles, optimism for Worcester’s Recovery High School
Worcester to open new drug court with goal of getting addicts help rather than sending them to jail
Worcester, Fitchburg, Leominster receive money for overdose drug
Massachusetts House passes opioid addiction bill
Increased opioid addiction feared
City of Worcester Public Health
2015 News:
DA Early Forms Central Mass. Opiate Task Force
Worcester Receives the Most State Funding to Combat Heroin and Opioid Crime
Worcester: Record 712 drug overdose calls, 25 deaths in city in 2014
Worcester Heroin Deaths Surge to Record High, Questions Remain Unanswered
Students work to overcome addiction at Worcester’s new Recovery High School
Narcan a popular get at AIDS Project Worcester
Needle drop-off added to Worcester library
Drug abuse drops under tough new court program
The depths of heroin addiction described at Worcester State forum
Worcester schedules prescription drug take back, other events to fight opiate abuse
Intervention efforts target prostitution in Worcester
Heroin epidemic exacts a savage toll in Massachusetts town
Moms turn grief into recovery through local support group
People of the Year: The Fight Against The Drug Epidemic
2014 News
Trends in youth drug use: Heroin losing stigma
Why Did Worcester Miss the Warning Signs on the Heroin Epidemic?
Substance abuse law opens doors to treatment
Pill Man: One man’s fight to overcome opiate addiction
Busy Worcester juvenile court sees fallout of opiate crisis
‘Magic’ Overdose Drug Works, But Demand And Price On The Rise
Worcester Takes Steps To Stop Spike In Fatal Drug Overdoses
AIDS Project Worcester out front in drug prevention battle
Community perspectives:
As I See It: Opioid abuse law deserves applause
Clive McFarlane: Sentencing guidelines have disparate impact
AS I SEE IT: Stemming the opioid crisis
Substance abuse disorder treatment in the criminal justice system: a front-line perspective
National Film and Television:
Prescription for Change: Ending America’s Opioid Crisis
Heroin: Cape Cod USA Documentary
Macklemore’s “Drug Dealer” Video Shows the Hellish Reality of Battling Addiction
Boston Globe Review of Heroin: Cape Code USA Documentary
Chasing the Dragon Documentary
Washington Post Review of Chasing the Dragon
Sentinel Enterprise Review of If Only
TED Talk: Everything You Know about Addiction is Wrong
Provided by: CAC Worcester
Substance Free Worcester 
I think ya’ll should share information on Harm Reduction practices for people who use drugs (PWUD). Only talking about abstaining from substances does the community a dis-service since people are going to continue to have relationships with substances. Preventing overdose, STI/HIV/HEPC, soft tissue wounds, etc etc only will happen if people know how to protect themselves.
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That’s a great perspective. We do at our practice discuss harm reduction practices as well.
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