Isolation, relapses contribute to increase in state, local opioid overdoses amid COVID

Local and state data show an increase in opioid overdose deaths in 2020 and officials say challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic played a role.

Plymouth County Outreach, a collaboration between the area's police departments, district attorney's office, sheriff's office and community partners, wrote in its annual report that there was an 18 percent increase in fatal overdoses.

"We had a tough year," said program director Victoria Butler. "Definitely isolation contributed to that. We also saw a lot of people who had been in recovery relapsing."

There were a total of 158 fatal overdoes in Plymouth County in 2020 compared to the 134 counted in 2019. The collaborative counts overdoses from opioids and other drugs. 

Statewide, opioid overdose deaths rose by 5 percent in 2020, which is the first increase in three years and slightly higher than a previous peak in 2016, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Data show that 2,104 people died of confirmed and estimated overdose deaths in 2020, which is more than the 2,002 in 2019 and slightly higher than a previous record high of 2,102 in 2016.

Brockton and Stoughton are among seven communities the Department of Public Health said have experienced notable increases in fatal opioid overdoses from 2019 to 2020.

Preliminary numbers from the department show that Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties had a higher number of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020 compared to 2019.

Plymouth County had 176 fatal overdoses in 2019 and 186 in 2020. Norfolk County went from 128 to 157 overdose deaths. Bristol County increased from 128 fatal overdoses to 232 in 2020, according to state data.

Fentanyl was present in 92 percent of opioid deaths in which there was a toxicology report, according to the Department of Public Health.

Those numbers are similar in Plymouth County, where 96 percent of fatal overdoses involved a known or suspected opiate, according to Plymouth County Outreach's report. 

Public health officials said the number coincides with "extraordinary public health challenges" of the COVID-19 pandemic, like social isolation, changes in drug supplies, avoidance of treatment for fear of contracting COVID-19 and economic and mental health impacts. 

"Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic have underscored the importance of supporting disproportionately impacted communities, and as we address both issues, our Administration has continued to focus on equity as a core component of our response," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.

Groups like Plymouth County Outreach have experienced some of these challenges. 

Between March and July 2020, Plymouth County Outreach stopped in-person visits for people who have overdosed, at risk of overdose or seeking services for drug or alcohol treatment.

Butler said it transitioned to offering support and services over the phone or virtually. Staff arranged drop offs of information or harm-reduction tools like Narcan, also known as naloxone, or fentanyl test strips.

But Butler said some people said the virtual support wasn't the same as it was in person, and not all people had access to virtual resources.

Alongside the increase in overdose deaths, Plymouth County Outreach also saw positive trends with Narcan administration and referrals.

In 2020, third-party individuals like friends, family members or bystanders administered Narcan in 29 percent of all overdose events. That was a 19 percent increase from 2019, which Plymouth County Outreach equates to recovery coaches and community partners being able to distribute harm reduction tools in the community. 

The collaborative also saw a 14 percent increase in referrals for those at risk for overdoses.

Butler said that staff likes to see that number go up because it shows trust in the program and its employees when people seek help. The goal is to reach people before they have an overdose by connecting them to resources, treatment or harm-reduction tools, she said.

Looking back on last year, Butler said Plymouth County Outreach was able to accomplish much more than expected. 

"Everyone really came together in a beautiful way to do the best we could to continue to reach this population during this unexpected pandemic," she said. 

Staff writer Mina Corpuz can be reached by email at mcorpuz@enterprisenews.com. You can follow her on Twitter @mlcorpuz. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.