Estimated Mass. overdose deaths top 1,200 for 2014

[unhappycamper]

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150804/NEWS/150808774

Estimated Mass. overdose deaths top 1,200 for 2014
By The Associated Press
Posted Aug. 4, 2015 at 5:05 PM

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State health officials say an estimated 1,256 people died from opioid-related overdoses in 2014, significantly higher than an earlier confirmed total of 1,047.

The number of deaths in 2015 represents a 57 percent increase over the confirmed 668 deaths recorded in 2012 and a 15 percent increase over the estimated 939 death in 2013.

Department of Public Health officials say the estimated rate of unintentional opioid-related overdose deaths — which includes deaths related to heroin — reached levels previously unseen in Massachusetts last year.

The estimated rate of 18.6 deaths per 100,000 residents for 2014 is the highest ever for unintentional opioid overdoses and represents a 250 percent increase from the rate of 5.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2000.

[Turbineguy]

1. The NRA will have to work extra hard

for gun deaths to remain competitive.