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Wguke ppioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts increased slightly this year, the latest DPH report shows cocaine use has spiked. Image via the Boston Herald. A Brigham and Women’s Hospital image.
– News from elsewhere covered by Quincy Quarry with commentary added,
Opiates and the damage done
A file photo
Opioid overdose deaths increase in Massachusetts and cocaine use soars.
The Boston Broadsheet has covered the just released Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s recent report on drug abuse.
Surprisingly, opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts were up by only 1.3% during the first nine months of 2021 as compared to comparable prior year’s data.
Not surprising, however, is that fentanyl continues to be the all but only cause of overdose deaths in fatal incidents where test data were available.
Blow
Image via the London Mirror
On the other hand, toxicology reports indicate that cocaine use looks to be up by 13% during the first six months of this year as compared to the first six months of last year.
That the use of cocaine, a stimulant, was up should also come as no great surprise as many continue to suffer from COVID Pandemic fatigue and could thus be looking for a pop.
As for other drug abuse trends and demographics, they can be reviewed here.
Source: Opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts climb along with cocaine use
Quincy Police or perhaps officers from some other police agency have been conducting on and off undercover surveillance in the Quincy Point area since May or so.
Usually, officers park three feet or more from the curb at an MBTA bus stop.
They always dress in logo sportswear hoodies or similar attire and all wear baseball caps while surveilling from their unmarked cars (I won’t disclose the makes and models).
Every so often one will glance up with a pair of small binoculars aimed at a particular house which is only a stone’s throw away.
My two cents: if these officers are out to bag a suspected criminal or criminals, they need some lessons on how to conduct covert surveillance. They are so obvious that they are the talk of the neighborhood.
Plus, if untrained citizens can spot these guys, so too surely can paranoid drug dealers. As such, for starters, I suggest that the officers consider reaching out to some of the retired seniors living in the neighborhood who have time on their hands for a little assistance.
I personally would so assist or let them use my living room so that they can more effectively monitor the suspected drug dealer and so be better able to put the person in jail as well as so save taxpayers some money.
I support the QPD 100% but watching them attempt to monitor a suspected criminal while the entire neighborhood is watching them is just cringeworthy.
After reading your comment, I think we are neighbors. Happy to know others also pay attention to the going-on in our hood.
Does Quincy Point have a Neighborhood Watch group?