In 2024, drug overdose deaths among Black Bostonians plummeted by nearly 60%, marking a significant turnaround in a troubling trend of rising mortality rates over the years.
Key factors contributing to this dramatic decline include the increased adoption of harm reduction strategies and outreach efforts focused on connecting with those most at risk, as detailed by Shanna Person-Johnson, the substance use community engagement coordinator at Dorchester’s Codman Square Health Center.
“Boots on the ground,” Person-Johnson stated, emphasizing the vital role of workers who are actively engaging with individuals in encampments and other hard-to-reach areas, sometimes even literally breaking down barriers to provide support and connection.
According to the latest figures released by the Boston Public Health Commission, this substantial decrease represents a marked departure from previous years, where Black communities in Massachusetts faced particularly dire circumstances amid the opioid crisis.
While the state and the nation recorded drops in overdose deaths among white populations, Black communities continued to struggle. In 2023, data showed that Black men and women in Massachusetts faced the highest rates of opioid-related deaths, particularly older Black men, who experienced a shocking 242% increase in overdose rates from 2017 to 2023.
The numbers for 2024 tell a different story, with a 59% decrease in opioid-related mortality among Black men, and an overall reduction of 58% for Black residents.
To put this into perspective, the death toll among Black Bostonians from drug overdoses fell from 104 in 2023 to just 44 in 2024.
Despite this positive development, Person-Johnson cautioned that there is still much work to be done, particularly as Black, Indigenous, and Latino populations continue to experience significant challenges in accessing care and resources.
Lois Frazier, a community member who has been directly affected by the crisis, understands these issues intimately. After losing one son to a drug overdose in 2022, due to the lethal combination of cocaine and fentanyl, Frazier now vigilantly checks on her other son, who struggles with addiction and homelessness.
“The system has led us to this,” Frazier remarked, highlighting the historical and systemic roots of the ongoing drug crisis that disproportionately impact Black communities, stemming from a long legacy of oppression.
The approach that has begun to yield results in communities like hers is grounded in harm reduction, a public health model focused on minimizing the negative consequences of drug use rather than strictly enforcing abstinence.
Elements of harm reduction include providing naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antidote, as well as fentanyl test strips and syringe exchange programs.
These strategies have been essential in the effort to decrease overdose deaths, yet experts warn that a single year of improvement should not mask the ongoing struggles that persist in these communities.
In a system riddled with historical and structural inequities, some neighborhoods see higher instances of addiction and barriers to accessing healthcare services than others, underscoring the need for culturally competent, empathetic care to build trust with affected individuals.
Michael Curry, president of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, stressed that genuine engagement with communities most impacted is crucial for success.
“We can do it, but it can’t be done in isolation,” Curry stated, advocating for strategies led by or involving those who have experienced addiction and recovery.
Person-Johnson noted that addiction can often have generational effects, as children raised in environments where substance use is prevalent may also struggle with similar issues later in life.
Additionally, within Black communities, there can be a reluctance to seek help for mental health concerns, which can compound addiction issues.
“The Black population doesn’t look at mental health as mental health,” Person-Johnson explained, advocating for a shift in perspectives to encourage seeking therapy and support.
Dr. Devin Cromartie Bodrick, a psychiatrist at Boston Medical Center, emphasized that effective outreach must extend beyond the medicalization of addiction.
It is essential to consider social determinants of health and provide comprehensive support that addresses all aspects of a person’s life, from basic hygiene needs to housing stability.
According to Cromartie Bodrick, when care providers focus holistically on individuals, there is a greater likelihood of retaining patients in treatment and helping them achieve lasting recovery.
The Boston Public Health Commission credits the recent decline in overdose deaths to several initiatives, including the distribution of naloxone, increased access to treatment, partnerships with medical services, and robust community engagement efforts.
A practical illustration of this work involves distributing over 23,000 doses of naloxone through outreach, vending machines, and community grants, alongside conducting over 25,000 direct engagements with individuals at risk and facilitating two thousand placement opportunities for treatment.
Moreover, a medical clinic set up inside the recovery services building has facilitated more than 2,700 patient visits, while federal funding has placed substance use navigators in community health centers across Boston.
Curry noted that around 90% of the state’s community health centers now offer office-based addiction treatment, integrating a comprehensive model that includes access to behavioral health services, recovery coaching, and connections to detox centers alongside supportive housing.
The city’s focus on community health centers has positioned them at the forefront of the city’s response to the drug crisis.
By leveraging funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more patients are being connected to addiction treatment with the aid of substance use navigators.
The substantial progress made is evidenced by health centers employing individuals trained to meet patients’ needs, ultimately leading to a reduction in overdose deaths.
Dr. Marjorie Janvier, chief medical officer of Upham’s Community Care in Dorchester, stated that the addition of substance use navigators has transformed the care model, yielding positive results.
Housing support has also become an integral component of Boston’s approach to substance use issues.
Over the past three years, new initiatives aimed at stabilizing and housing individuals with substance use disorders have assisted nearly 850 individuals, with over 270 successfully placed into long-term permanent housing.
Curry highlighted that this type of wraparound support is crucial for saving lives.
Boston Medical Center is undertaking a pioneering pilot program in collaboration with two churches in Roxbury and Milton, focusing on helping Black churchgoers navigate mental health resources while addressing race-based trauma in particular.
This initiative exemplifies the importance of partnering with established organizations that have already earned the trust of the Black community.
“Whenever you pull spiritual aspects into this, it can really illuminate it for people,” Cromartie Bodrick stated, noting that integrating spirituality can enhance the program’s effectiveness.
Person-Johnson underscored the ongoing efforts of street outreach workers, who are instrumental in breaking down barriers and providing nonjudgmental assistance to those in need.
While reaching out to individuals in Dorchester, she experienced a positive response when distributing simple hygiene items like washcloths, highlighting the need for small yet meaningful gestures in building rapport.
Maintaining a respectful and supportive approach, outreach workers aim to connect with and help individuals without passing judgment.
Observing the resilience of many individuals who have risen from addiction to achieve professional success, Person-Johnson expressed the need to celebrate these stories alongside the statistics.
“People memorize the numbers of those in addiction, but what about our people who came out? That’s what people need to see,” she concluded.
image source from：masslive
