There were 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2025. This is the first time since 2013 that officials have recorded fewer than 1,000 deaths. The number of deaths dropped dramatically in recent years. Massachusetts has been one of the states hit hardest by the opioid epidemic.
There were 69,973 overdose deaths during the 12-month period ending in December 2025. The total number of overdose deaths for the year ending in 2019 was 70,630. Washington will try to claim credit for the decline in overdose deaths, but the evidence suggests other factors are at play. For example, younger Americans are using fewer psychoactive substances and smoking is becoming more common.
Treatment or retreat? The future of addiction care in Minnesota is a MinnPost Social event on Monday, June 22, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. The ticket pre-sale for members begins on June 8. If tickets remain, they will be available to the public on June 10.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was the first health secretary openly in recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. He said evidence-based medications for treating opioid addiction would remain essential components of the country’s response to its drug overdose crisis. Lev's reporting explored Americans’ hostility to addiction medications, subpar treatment offered in jails and prisons, shifts in the illicit drug supply and consumption behavior, controversies surrounding harm reduction, and recent innovations in addiction medicine.
Andy Steiner, MinnPost's mental health and addiction reporter, and Katy Armendariz, founder of St. Paul’s Roots Wellness Center, will talk about the future of addiction treatment in Minnesota as Medicaid cuts loom. The event is part of the Minnpost Social event series presented by Darla Kashian — RBC Wealth Management and Great River Energy.
Karli Swenson studied substance use during pregnancy in Colorado. She developed a training for obstetric and neonatal healthcare professionals to improve perinatal substance use care. 1,454 healthcare professionals completed the training in 33 hospitals, birth centers and community organizations in Colorado between 2023 and 2025.
The Department of Health and Human Services is looking for funding sources for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness. The agency is seeking examples of successful programs and policies that have been successful and recommend novel policy ideas and gaps in research that could be addressed and implemented to further the Great American Recovery.
Theresa is the lead Morning Rounds writer. Her stories focus on gender-affirming care, reproductive health, and mental health. Sarah Mupo, STAT’s director of editorial operations, explains the decision. Karen Pennar, former editor of this newsletter, talks about the suppressed federal alcohol report.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new national effort to address psychiatric overprescribing. Investigators who reanalyzed one of the most influential federally funded depression trials reported that the original success claims were heavily inflated. Long-term recovery data from the STAR*D trial painted a much bleaker picture than most patients were told.
The number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. fell by 23% last year, marking the second consecutive year of declines. However, the average drug shortage lasted 5.3 years. 75 drugs were in short supply last year and 39% were unavailable for more than 5 years.