Malden Opioid Overdoses Decreased In 2023: Board Of Health

MALDEN, MA – The number of opioid overdoses in Malden has decreased by nearly a quarter in the first six months of 2023 compared to the same time period last year.

Overdoses have decreased by roughly 20 percent so far this year, with the number of individuals seeking treatment and entering recovery having increased this year, according to Paul Hammersley, Malden’s Board of Health Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist.

The 20 percent decrease was measured by the number of calls that come in from Cataldo Ambulance Services, Malden Fire, and Malden Police, Hammersley said.

Last year, from 2020 to 2021, the city saw a 35 percent decrease in the number of opioid overdoses over the previous year, Hammersley said.

“Where we were last year at this time after six months, we're down another 20% decrease in overdoses which is great news,” he said.

City officials attribute the decrease to the Malden Cares program, which was developed by Hammersley and the Malden Board of Health along with non-profit Malden Overcoming Addiction.

Malden Cares provides recovery coaches that are on the street daily in targeted areas, directly engaging with residents and providing recovery resources as well as assistance with food insecurity and homelessness.

Mayor Gary Christenson has also established an Opioid Task Force which meets monthly to analyze overdose trends and deaths from the previous month, and develop outreach and strategies for the next month.

The task force is made up of Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin, Malden Fire Chief Stephen Froio, Malden’s Board of Health Director, Recovery Coaches and members of Malden Overcoming Addiction.

The Opioid Task Force is currently working with the Melrose Wakefield Hospital to establish recovery coaches in its emergency rooms to meet with patients who are transported by ambulance for overdoses.