How Did Boston’s Opioid Problem Get So Bad?
The national opioid crisis, by many accounts, is twice as bad in Boston. The past few years have seen a precipitous rise in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Drug rehabs in Boston have also faced ever-increasing numbers of opioid-related admissions since the late 2000s, a trend that has not let up into the present day.
Over the past decade, opioid-related overdoses in Boston have remained a major public health concern, with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl continuing to play a significant role in overdose deaths. Opioids, particularly illicit fentanyl, continue to be involved in a large majority of drug overdose deaths in Boston and across Massachusetts.
One thing that makes opioid drugs like heroin and fentanyl so dangerous is that relatively low doses can easily lead to a substance use disorder. Even short-term use of highly potent opioids such as fentanyl or heroin can increase the risk of dependence, particularly in individuals with genetic, psychological, or environmental risk factors.
Why are opioids so addictive?
Opioid misuse has long been a significant public health issue. The demand for opioids has even significantly changed the course of world history and international relations in ways that we still experience every day.
Opioid drugs have a number of qualities that make them a far greater health risk than comparable drugs such as alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine.
Here are just a few of the reasons why so many people are hooked on opioids:
1. They’re highly effective at pain control
Opioids are the most effective painkilling drugs known to modern medicine. While there is research into alternatives to opioids, as of yet, there are no known non-opioid painkillers that can provide a similar level of pain relief.
Indeed, many people with opioid use disorders started on prescription pain medications, initially finding them to be a godsend simply because of how effective they are. The opioid crisis has been linked to a combination of factors, including historical overprescribing practices, aggressive pharmaceutical marketing, and the growing availability of illicit synthetic opioids.y.
2. They can deliver a strong euphoric effect
People who use drugs recreationally may turn to opioids in an effort to find a better, more powerful high. By most accounts, opioids deliver some of the most intense feelings of euphoria of any readily available drug. This can lead recreational users to misuse opioids repeatedly to get the desired result.
3. Our bodies may have evolved to use opioids
Similar to those of most vertebrates, the human body has opioid receptors that are perfectly suited for processing chemicals commonly found in opioid drugs. Humans naturally produce endorphins and other compounds that interact with opioid receptors, which play important roles in pain regulation, stress response, and reward pathways.
4. They can deliver peace of mind almost immediately
Most substance use disorder cases correlate with preexisting mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many others. Opioids are not only remarkable in how they suppress physical pain but emotional distress as well. Most opioid drugs can act almost immediately to give the user a sense of peace that can be impossible to achieve otherwise. This can easily lead to compulsive drug taking, especially if the individual’s preexisting psychiatric conditions are not treated.
5. They are highly accessible
In Boston, as with the rest of the United States, there has been a growing concern about the widespread availability of legal prescription opioids. The accessibility of these drugs has, in turn, driving up the demand and supply of dangerous illegal opioids, including adulterated fentanyl and black tar heroin. Despite the efforts of health and law enforcement authorities, both legal and illicit opioids are highly accessible to most people in the Greater Boston Area.
Why do Bostonians have easy access to opioids?
One major factor in developing a severe substance use disorder is how accessible a drug is to an individual. While possible, it’s highly unlikely a person will develop an opioid use disorder from using a single dose of opioids. However, if they can access these drugs repeatedly, the potential for repeated misuse can be quite high.
Unfortunately, the Greater Boston Area is home to a number of well-established transnational criminal organizations that can meet the demand for illicit opioids. Like many regions of the United States, the Greater Boston Area has faced challenges related to the trafficking and distribution of illicit opioids, particularly fentanyl. As a result, while illicit opioids could be found virtually anywhere in the country, Bostonians are far likelier to have access to a regular supply of these drugs.
Conclusion
The opioid crisis in Boston reflects a complex mix of factors, including the addictive nature of opioids, historical prescribing practices, mental health challenges, and the continued availability of illicit substances such as fentanyl. Addressing the crisis requires coordinated efforts in prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and community support.
