Statement from Julie Burns, President & CEO of RIZE Massachusetts

December 14, 2022

Boston

RIZE Massachusetts, an independent nonprofit foundation working to end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, remains steadfast in our mission in response to the latest state data on opioid-related deaths. Though we are finally seeing a decline in deaths from the staggering figures of the last two years, we cannot forget that each number still represents a life lost too soon and devastation for families and communities across the Commonwealth. Though this is not a moment for celebration, it is one for hope. We thank the Baker-Polito Administration for staying laser-focused on the overdose crisis and look forward to working with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to continue to build on a data-driven and equity-based public health approach that makes prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services readily available to anyone, no matter who they are or where they live.