Massachusetts opioid-related overdose deaths fell below 1,000 last year for the first time in more than a decade, continuing a steep decline from the height of the overdose crisis, according to preliminary state data.
UMass Memorial Health marks that progress Wednesday during its annual International Overdose Awareness Day ceremony in Worcester, while honoring those who have died and recognizing families and communities still affected by substance use disorder.
Preliminary data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2025, down from 1,336 in 2024. The figure represents a nearly 60% decline from 2022, when Massachusetts recorded a peak of 2,364 opioid-related overdose deaths…