“I think each of us has a story going all the way back to 1619 when those first enslaved people were sold in Virginia," said Civil War reenactor and discussion panelist Joe Zellner. "If we knew more about these people throughout history, I think we would be surprised and awed by their life stories.”
The move toward recovery facilities is part of a broader plan by the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker to convert skilled nursing facilities into treatment centers for COVID-19 patients. The goal is to take the pressure off of nearby hospitals.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health's first quarterly opioid report of 2017 showed an increase in opioid-related overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl and declines in the presence of heroin and prescription opioids in opioid-related deaths.
“Opioid use disorder is a chronic disease, and this epidemic is a complex and persistent problem that will not be solved through a single solution.”
--- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel
