Good morning ~

Today, we intended to recap the Opioid Task Force's accomplishments of last year and preview our upcoming activities for 2025.

However, the pace of recent federal actions, which have resulted in freezes in federal grant funding, cuts, or layoffs of federal agency staff, to name a few, merits attention.

What does this all mean for our work to reduce opioid and heroin addiction, prevent overdose deaths, and improve the quality of life in our community?

As we commemorate our 12th year in September, we have seen four federal and three different state administrations. Each has brought exciting opportunities, stubborn barriers to overcome, and funding that allowed us to do our work to save and change lives.

Do you know what hasn't changed? How addiction can upend people's lives, livelihoods, and families, cutting a wide and sometimes permanent swath that can persist for generations.

If we know nothing at all, we know this. Addiction doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care who you voted for, what political party you belong to, what religion you are, how you identify, or how much money you make.

It is in all our interests, as a nation and state, to do everything we can to prevent substance misuse and offer multiple pathways of person-centered recovery and treatment. Everyone loses when we don't.

Here's a look at some eye-popping statistics to underscore this point:

• Nearly 727,000 Americans have lost their lives due to opioid overdose between 1999 and 2022.
• On average, 244 people lost their lives each day to opioid overdose in 2022.
• Substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders, "cost employer-sponsored healthcare plans $35.3 billion in 2018."
• Nearly 9,000 pediatric deaths were attributed to opioids between 1999 and 2016, and the "mortality rate for youth nearly tripled."
• The overall economic burden of opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose totaled approximately $1,020.7 billion in 2017.
• An estimated 321,566 children lost a parent to overdose between 2011 and 2021.

We know there is much uncertainty and fear right now, but we are here. We are not going anywhere, as much work remains to fulfill our mission.

We will continue to innovate, build partnerships, and collaborate to provide hope and help to those impacted by addiction. We hope you will join us in this good fight.

Sincerely,

Register John F. Merrigan

 Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan

Sheriff Lori M. Streeter

 Co-chairs, Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region