The Evolution of Opioid Crisis in Massachusetts, 2016–2026: An Integrative Review of Policy, Public Health Interventions, and Healthcare Responses
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The opioid crisis in Massachusetts, a state in the northeastern United States, continues to present major public health challenges despite a shift toward declining mortality. The state witnessed a record high of 2,364 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022. In 2025, preliminary statistics showed 978 deaths, representing almost 60% reduction since 2022. The Department of Public Health attributes the progress to sustained harm reduction initiatives, increased awareness, and community-based treatment services although the relative contributions of various strategies remain clear. While the declining mortality rates highlight key successes of current interventions, the state still faces challenges in adequately supporting individuals affected by opioid use because of ongoing concerns related to nonfatal overdose, polysubstance exposure, and demand for illicit drug supply. This integrative review aims to synthesize evidence on the evolution of Massachusetts’s response to the opioid crisis between 2016 and 2026 focusing on state and federal policy, public health interventions, and healthcare response. Second, it examines reported outcomes and identifies persistent gaps in the state’s response
Source: OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Author: Seth Mensah Adjei
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7207552040